Imperials Young and Old and Father and Son Fight Over Name Rights
by 
Jason Bean on March 4th, 2008
I just got done reading a story in ChristianityToday that just irritates the fire out of me and makes me sick.
Armond Morales, one of the original members of the Imperials is battling over the rights to use the “Imperials” name with none other than his son, Jason Morales. His son started singing in a new group and wanted to use his dad’s group’s name. They convinced the elder Morales to give up all of his rights to the name. It’s my understanding that there weren’t any lawyers involved in the agreement and I get the impression that the young group was trying to pull one over on the elder Morales. I might give Jason Morales a tiny bit of credit because he said he’s staying out of the business argument. I’d give him a ton more credit if he’d convince the rest of the members of his group to just forget the name and make it on their own.
Smith said it boils down to the 2005 agreement: “Our whole standing to be the Imperials is rooted in the assignment of trademark that Mr. Morales signed.”
How about this, what if you’re whole standing as a Christian singing group was rooted on you being good enough to attract fans and an audience on your own ability and not the name printed on your albums and posters.
And look at what the young group is trying to force over on the elder Morales:
Armond told CT that MOSH does not want him to claim to have won Grammy and Dove Awards that the Imperials won as a group between 1969 and 1984. The younger group now makes that claim, even though none of them were members of the group at the time. The younger group also now bills itself as a “Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductee,” even though none of the current members were with the Imperials at that induction a decade ago.
Yeah, you’ve got no claim on the awards won by the original group. For the same reason that the current members of the Chicago Bulls have no real claim on the previous championships that were won by Michael Jordan’s Bull’s, even though they’re legitimate Chicago Bulls.
Here’s the deal. This doesn’t help anyone! You, your dad, Christian music or anyone. Drop the law suit and think of a new name. Let your dad and the rest of the members of the Imperials own their legacy and accomplishments.
Imperials Embroiled in Lawsuit Over Name | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction
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5 opinions for Imperials Young and Old and Father and Son Fight Over Name Rights
Mar 6, 2008 at 7:38 pm
What a shame. What is Christian about making false claims about winning awards, etc just because of a trademark technicality? I would have no problem with them using the name, but all the other details mentioned here are ridiculous, unChristian and unethical, in my opinion. No one has the right to steal someone else’s hard earned work and rewards, nor their bragging rights.
Mar 8, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I usually am more careful before speaking, but in this instance, I was hasty. This evening, I read the open letter posted on the Imperials’ website http://theimperials.com/openletter.php and I see things a little differently now that I’ve read it. I hope you and others will also read it before making judgements. It’s so easy to jump to conclusions without knowing the whole story and Christianity Today should have been more responsibly in their story.
Mar 16, 2008 at 10:20 am
I just think it is a shame that a son, even though he has “recused” himself of legal action, can join in against his Dad. That is the bottom linie, forget money, fame, ego, all the other things that have gotten into this. Shame on you, Jason. Your Dad is a fine, honorable, Christian man. (By the way, I have known him (Armond) all my life). I don’t know all the details about the lawsuit, nor do I know for sure who did what. Only the people involved and God know that. It seems as the younger generation in Southern Gospel is treating the older people who have paved the way before them with less and less respect, much less with Christian principles. You cannot make a claim to things that are not your own and that you have not done. It might build up your ego, but you really know the truth. We all have a responsibility to God to do the right thing. Not only to God, but to ourselves and to our family. You can spin things about anyway you want, but when it comes down to it, egos are at the root of it. I pray that the family already is or can be restored. It’s not worth it.
Mar 19, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I personally boycott the purchase of the new group’s music and make no recommendation of them until this issue is resolved between families. It is not Chiristian to do this. Making the new group successful at the expense of the older group… That is just not right, brothers.
Mar 25, 2008 at 7:47 am
I agree, you won’t see me buying any of the new groups albums. I’m curious though if they legally have naming rights if proceeds from the original group go to them? Does anyone know?
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