‘Mark Farner’s American Band’ May Rock On, For Now

The former members of 1970s rock band Grand Funk Railroad won a split decision in a fight over the rights to the band’s trademarks.

Grand Funk’s bass player Mel Schacher and drummer Don Brewer aren’t entitled to a preliminary injunction barring lead singer Mark Farner from promoting his current group as “Mark Farner’s American Band,” allegedly in violation of the trademark “The American Band” held by the other two original members, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan said.

Grand Funk failed to show a strong likelihood of success that Farner’s use of “Mark Farner’s American Band” ...