Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle

Mark Davyd is the Chief Executive of Rhythmix, one of the UK’s leading music charities.

Simon-Cowell This week has taken us from being a charity working with vulnerable and disabled children to facing a media blitz and onslaught. This would be great if the reasons were good and they were to the benefit of the work that Rhythmix wants to deliver.

Instead we find ourselves in a ludicrous legal battle with Simon Cowell, his Sony BMG backed company Simco and the X-Factor. This will cost us between £8000 and £20,000 in legal fees. Which we cannot afford.

Why? We have been forced by their actions to fight for our trademark which we own and operate under. Now we are feeling the corporate and legal backlash.

As a charity we work to better society and we want to do the right thing but we are faced with people who wouldn’t apparently know the right thing if it camped on their doorstep. To be honest, we don’t know how to manage it all. We need the law-makers and politicians of all sides and the ‘big society’ to come out and help us.

We believe in the politics of hope and we want to turn this situation around. We have to thank our local MP Caroline Lucas for coming out and supporting us with an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons. To date only 14 MPs have signed this but we are hoping that more parliamentarians who believe in social right will sign this.

The support from people such as Stephen Fry and Armando Ianucci has been great in raising awareness to our campaign, which, because of the costs, we still need to fight.

We believe the responsibility for the legal fees rests with Sim/SyCo. As they won’t comment about that responsibility, or even respond to us directly about what they intend to do about it, we have been forced to ask the public to help out. To date, they have very generously got behind this campaign to the tune of £4000.

There’s some humour here though. You have to laugh at the dark absurdity and irony of a situation where an industry with big labels such as Sony BMG, Syco and BPI fights so hard for copyright and trademark legislation because they are key to protecting the business and developing talent, then turns around and uses that legislation and the legal fees that come with it to slowly bleed a charity until we get out of their way.

It is simply wrong. We are at the hard end of corporate bullying, legal manoeuvring and we need all the help we can get to fight for our future.

A spokesperson for X-Factor apparently told the BBC:

“We are happy to withdraw the application for the trademark, as initially offered at the time of the name change to Little Mix. Syco have in fact been asked not to do this by the charity. We remain happy to withdraw it and we do not intend to use this name at any time in the future. We conclude this matter is closed.”

As has been reported previously, the reality is that Simon Cowell’s company Simco has still yet to cancel its application to legally trademark it; that the company’s legal representatives have ignored repeated requests by the charity’s lawyers to desist from actions that would result in it acquiring the trademark Rhythmix; and that they did indeed offer to desist from pursuing their trademark – provided we accepted a gagging order, leaving us high and dry for the legal fees.

None of that is in the weasel words of their PR statement. Because that’s all the information we have ever received directly from Simco; journalists phoning us to read out their latest PR presentation of how terribly ill informed a charity is.

No acknowledgement that their own actions provoked the entire episode, no explanation of who at the programme though it was a good idea to try and obtain exclusive use of a name that was already being used by a charity, no details of why they didn’t try and manage it in several hundred different ways that wouldn’t have put the charity in this corner.

Just an ever evolving series of PR statements.

We could try a ‘no win, no fee’ application, which this government are set to change under the Jackson reforms, but this again is draining our resources. All charities, including ours, are currently fighting for our existence in the face of government cuts and changes to arts, community and social funding.

Rhythmix was established in 1999 and we has helped 40,000 vulnerable children and young people, providing access to creative opportunities that help them to make a positive change in their lives. Our projects include work with young people with special physical or learning needs, looked after children, bereaved children, young people in secure units, excluded from school or at risk from crime.

We are forced to ask for public help and support. We are asking people to sound off for justice.

We’ve started a campaign called #CowellMustPay. This weekend, if you think it’s wrong for corporations to take what they want, to get what they want, to use their power and money to ride roughshod over “the little guy”, take the weekend off from making SyCo richer. Don’t vote X Factor.

Text your vote RTMX11 £1 to 70070. The first £8,000 we receive will pay off Simco’s responsibilty for their actions; simply take the money out of their pocket with your own vote. We’re asking the public to choose what matters most: three seconds of revenue for the already bloated pockets of SyCo, or 120 hours of music and creativity for some of the most vulnerable young people in our society?

Every other penny we receive will go to support vulnerable young being given a chance to make a positive change in their lives.

See also:

• Memo to Cameron: The rich give less to charity – Daniel Elton, November 4th 2011

• The government must explain the alternatives to Conditional Fee Arrangements – Jonny Mulligan, September 23rd 2011

• As Cameron talks up the Big Society, it’s crashing down – Dominic Browne, June 6th 2011

• Rich List 2011: Charity down and inequality up – Duncan Exley, May 9th 2011

• Hit anti-cuts song to battle X Factor winner for Christmas No. 1 – Shamik Das, November 29th 2010

Stephen Wigmore

This week I will vote in the X Factor for the first time ever to donate £1 to yourselves. Even if it wasn’t a good cause it would be worth £1 just to stick it to Simon Cowell.
http://twitter.com/nowinnofee2/status/136903384266575873 No Win No Fee

Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle: We could try … http://t.co/eQM73rBU http://t.co/dF8JONLf
http://twitter.com/stuartleebrown/status/136908114468409345 Stuart Brown

http://t.co/V1OSLbwH #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/fsc_silentdisco/status/136911271491682305 Flying Sound Company

RT @leftfootfwd: Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/dM3Z7skE
http://twitter.com/pauliwauli2/status/136912365831733249 Paula Walker

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/jazzmyne/status/136913111218266112 heather stowell

RT @leftfootfwd: Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/A2K8t5Uy
http://twitter.com/babydragontjh/status/136913370665332736 Tracey Hand

#SimonCowell : music mogul or callous greedy bastard ? You decide !! http://t.co/JWfdNHYH #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/dreamcargoes/status/136919619201011712 Tom May

Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle: http://t.co/1SNzzKI5
http://twitter.com/m_we/status/136921114378108928 Matthew Wilson Eames

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/labour52rose/status/136924160579481600 Alex Braithwaite

RT @leftfootfwd: Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/z7fuhXmH
http://twitter.com/nikdone/status/137001739630030848 nik done

RT @leftfootfwd: Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/iMMXOPWX
http://twitter.com/rhythmixmusic/status/137094659339063296 Rhythmix

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/elderuk/status/137095346131185664 Carl Robson

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/floggermeister/status/137095397968576513 Carl Robson

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/nj_davies/status/137096938389639168 Nick Davies

Outrageous treatment by Simon Cowell and the X-Factor of a small children's charity. http://t.co/L0Zs0Ody #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/colinbarber13/status/137097122100162560 Colin Barber

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/petebrookes/status/137097753200300033 pete brookes

“@leftfootfwd: Read how SimonCowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a Brighton children's music charity: http://t.co/jQD9Xv6Q”
#XFactor
#fb
http://twitter.com/fredburvenich/status/137098700760690688 Fred Burvenich

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/anguavonuber/status/137099023701131264 E’Liza Sparks

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/mikedicks0n/status/137099749420564480 Michael Dickson

How Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic – The children's music charity that needs your support! http://t.co/Hs1viUoL @markdavyd
http://twitter.com/sberriman/status/137100758985351168 Simon Berriman

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/distant_angel/status/137100977152081920 Kris King

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/dmintransition/status/137101220472041472 Diana Morgan

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/rhythmixmusic/status/137102918028492800 Rhythmix

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/endaguinan/status/137103118130352128 Enda Guinan

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/daveatko/status/137104106375487488 Dave Atkinson

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/mikedicks0n/status/137104119063265280 Michael Dickson

With @SimonCowell now on Twitter the #CowellMustPay movement is going to explode! Help @RhythmixMusic – Read & Share: http://t.co/Hs1viUoL
http://twitter.com/fredburvenich/status/137104262730752000 Fred Burvenich

Outrageous treatment by Simon Cowell and the X-Factor of a small children's charity. http://t.co/L0Zs0Ody #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/colincoach/status/137104319475486720 Colin Edwards

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/rhythmixmusic/status/137104409363619840 Rhythmix

With @SimonCowell now on Twitter the #CowellMustPay movement is going to explode! Help @RhythmixMusic – Read & Share: http://t.co/Hs1viUoL
http://twitter.com/notsignedtv/status/137104744752746496 NotSigned.TV

Social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/K0t3mbml
http://twitter.com/overdrivemg/status/137104754093457408 Overdrive MG

Social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle: We are in a ludicrous legal battle with Simon… http://t.co/ZWa7MPGX
http://twitter.com/panthoney/status/137105070037803008 Paul Anthoney

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/fundraising/status/137105101591556096 fundraising

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/macdog73/status/137105229509439488 Macdog73

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/circusboy1/status/137106438106525696 Adam Cohen

With @SimonCowell now on Twitter the #CowellMustPay movement is going to explode! Help @RhythmixMusic – Read & Share: http://t.co/Hs1viUoL
http://twitter.com/petebrookes/status/137106726762725376 pete brookes

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/oneinamillion_/status/137107422409015296 One In A Million

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/bungledinho/status/137107504906776576 Bryan SWFC

RT @leftfootfwd: Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/oRhlLKw0
http://twitter.com/petebrookes/status/137107727691431936 pete brookes

“@NJ_Davies: Outrageous treatment by @SimonCowell & the X-Factor of a small children's charity. http://t.co/2wX4mFL3 #CowellMustPay "
#fb
http://twitter.com/anguavonuber/status/137107970931695616 E’Liza Sparks

Outrageous treatment by Simon Cowell and the X-Factor of a small children's charity. http://t.co/L0Zs0Ody #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/petebrookes/status/137108074363240448 pete brookes

With @SimonCowell now on Twitter the #CowellMustPay movement is going to explode! Help @RhythmixMusic – Read & Share: http://t.co/Hs1viUoL
http://twitter.com/anguavonuber/status/137108113366065153 E’Liza Sparks

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/danjrobinson/status/137110154733817856 Dan Robinson

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/kevinbolt/status/137111689580646400 Kevin Bolt

With @SimonCowell now on Twitter the #CowellMustPay movement is going to explode! Help @RhythmixMusic – Read & Share: http://t.co/Hs1viUoL
http://twitter.com/noxhanti/status/137112592299724800 Noxi

RT @leftfootfwd: Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/pKX3syfN
http://twitter.com/mayadeliro/status/137113692952211456 Emily May Robertson

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/jenikat1/status/137114118560813056 Jenny Williams

Outrageous treatment by Simon Cowell and the X-Factor of a small children's charity. http://t.co/L0Zs0Ody #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/jenikat1/status/137114293211643905 Jenny Williams

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/lucy_stone/status/137116589265920000 Lucy Stone

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/rachicles/status/137117207439228928 Rachel Allen

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/dlfuk/status/137117972404781056 Disabled Living Fdn

Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs and the X-Factor trademark battle: http://t.co/QqDGVZne via @leftfootfwd featuring @rhythmixmusic
http://twitter.com/brianlj/status/137119090883051520 Brian L Johnson

RT @leftfootfwd Fair fight? @SimonCowell @TheXFactor & @Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic children's charity http://t.co/AUcbXmBT #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/traceyproudlock/status/137119860554600450 Tracey Proudlock

Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs and the X-Factor trademark battle: http://t.co/QqDGVZne via @leftfootfwd featuring @rhythmixmusic
http://twitter.com/thegreenfiddler/status/137144314177404928 thegreenfiddler

With @SimonCowell now on Twitter the #CowellMustPay movement is going to explode! Help @RhythmixMusic – Read & Share: http://t.co/Hs1viUoL
http://twitter.com/fussellface/status/137165889219989505 Kerena Fussell

Please ask you MP to sign this early day motion to protect small charity from Simon Cowell and the X-factor: http://t.co/Fan98T9z
http://twitter.com/ajrob41/status/137171340158439424 Anna Robertson

Please ask you MP to sign this early day motion to protect small charity from Simon Cowell and the X-factor: http://t.co/Fan98T9z
http://twitter.com/minesy67/status/137181603565809668 Chris Mines

Please ask you MP to sign this early day motion to protect small charity from Simon Cowell and the X-factor: http://t.co/Fan98T9z
http://twitter.com/humanleaguefans/status/137195489828409345 StevieD

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/calamateur/status/137218406196850688 calamateur

RT @leftfootfwd: Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/bUfRfYdB
http://twitter.com/amazinsuphilips/status/137234885017473026 Sue Phillips

@andymartindale pls read& RT @leftfootfwd: Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/kq37VoJ5
http://twitter.com/amazinsuphilips/status/137242536459763712 Sue Phillips

#thewrightstuff http://t.co/b0GCJ91P Please read, RT and comment folks – thanks. The XF is really messing with this charity quite unfairly.
http://twitter.com/piebaldlady/status/137252954137825280 Pie

#thewrightstuff http://t.co/b0GCJ91P Please read, RT and comment folks – thanks. The XF is really messing with this charity quite unfairly.
http://twitter.com/fayedonnelly/status/137300305514733568 Faye Donnelly

Rhythmix: the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/lNieIriu
http://twitter.com/bigredegg/status/137346423023865856 Justin Quinn

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/caraloujack/status/137625392377896961 Cara Jack

#cowellmustpay http://t.co/coGofftj
http://twitter.com/fiona_hill/status/137865578365988864 Fiona Hill

Saw this article by charity Rhythmix. Will make my first #xfactor vote today by supporting #Rhythmix http://t.co/Vfo5OIAp
http://twitter.com/hullabalooquire/status/138365152784433153 Hullabaloo Quire

Fair fight? Simon Cowell, X-Factor and Sony BMG vs @rhythmixmusic, a children's charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m #CowellMustPay
http://twitter.com/hullabalooquire/status/138365282380025856 Hullabaloo Quire

Read how Simon Cowell tried to wreck @rhythmixmusic, a children's music charity from Brighton: http://t.co/7Y8KUf2m
http://twitter.com/aniyacharterloo/status/140097310683185152 Aniya Charter

Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle – Left Foot Forward http://t.co/VTZ68Y0x
http://twitter.com/pascale_palmer/status/145577793315553280 Pascale Palmer

RT @leftfootfwd: Rhythmix: social rights, corporate wrongs, and the X-Factor trademark battle http://t.co/zxqELKMB
http://twitter.com/cat_lady_pip/status/145578670059294720 Phillippa T-J

A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/7emsUSNe
http://twitter.com/richcarey/status/145579157198352384 Rich Carey

A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/7emsUSNe
http://twitter.com/elliecumbo/status/145579365609115650 Ellie Cumbo

A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/7emsUSNe
http://twitter.com/ed_son/status/145579475529244673 Huw G

A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/7emsUSNe
http://twitter.com/safy_l/status/145580478097932288 Safeera Laher

“@shamikdas: A little light #XFactor reading abt that ' nice' Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/ekXzS8i1” plz read b4 u vote ppl!
http://twitter.com/furiousskies/status/145581394863734785 Star Fury

«@leftfootfwd «@shamikdas A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/oz9IYhFj»»
http://twitter.com/omoolope/status/145589281778446336 Olu Oyewunmi

A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/7emsUSNe
http://twitter.com/roysson/status/145592797431476224 Damien Tuffnell

"@shamikdas: A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/knVEYc2o" from 16th Nov, but still important.
http://twitter.com/colette2820/status/145865164951011328 colette

A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/7emsUSNe
http://twitter.com/colette2820/status/145865164951011328 colette

A little light #XFactor reading abt that nice Mr Cowell 4 everyone… http://t.co/7emsUSNe
http://twitter.com/nathantrout/status/146004464820699136 Nathan Trout

Interestingly the people who make the #XFactor really are cunts. http://t.co/6ywsC3L4 http://t.co/0QF8NudL #blackmirror
http://twitter.com/nathantrout/status/146004464820699136 Nathan Trout

Interestingly the people who make the #XFactor really are cunts. http://t.co/6ywsC3L4 http://t.co/0QF8NudL #blackmirror
http://twitter.com/xapplelnx/status/146007117902528512 Lenbo

"@NathanTrout: http://t.co/HBU0XSHu http://t.co/hBsSCMJG #blackmirror" which is more shocking, fiction or reality?
http://twitter.com/xapplelnx/status/146007117902528512 Lenbo

"@NathanTrout: http://t.co/HBU0XSHu http://t.co/hBsSCMJG #blackmirror" which is more shocking, fiction or reality?
http://twitter.com/ed_furniss/status/146141515910098944 Ed Furniss

And the X Factor losers: http://t.co/2HomAoC9