Journey’s ‘Messy’ Feud Fueled by Trademark Fight, Contracts (2)

The trademark feud embroiling the rock band Journey is in many ways a familiar story of bands struggling to untangle valuable rights when they split or disagree, spurred by big egos and even bigger piles of money.

Millions are at stake for the classic lineup of Journey, whose 1981 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” is the most downloaded song from the 20th century. The dispute is complicated by an allegedly fraudulent corporate takeover and an unusual structure of entities owning and operating the trademark on the band’s name.

The squabble offers lessons on the importance of forming companies with clear governance ...