Ohio County Seeks Rehearing in Monroe Bluegrass Festival Case

Enlarge image

Credit Wikimedia Commons

A court fight over the name of legendary bluegrass musician Bill Monroe isn't over yet. The Ohio County Industrial Foundation has filed a petition with the Kentucky Court of Appeals seeking a rehearing on whether a nonprofit organization can use Monroe's name to promote The Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Music Festival and for tours of the musician's home place in western Kentucky.

The appeals court decision in favor of the nonprofit organization was a reversal of a lower court decision that found Ohio County held the intellectual property rights to Monroe's name and could stop the festival from using it. The Ohio County Industrial Foundation voted unanimously this month to seek the rehearing.