Mariah battles porn star over stage name

Mariah is vigorously attempting to stop porn star-turned politician Mary Carey from trademarking her similar sounding stage name, saying that fans could get the two performers confused.

But the adult film actress, whose real name is Mary Cook, said that she will not be intimidated by the international superstar and will press forward with her trademark application.

"I'm ready to battle Mariah over this because I've been Mary Carey for a long time," she said.

"It's kind of funny because I'm a porn star and I've been being myself for a long time. I think she's being silly."

The star of films such as Double Air Bags 11 and Boobsville Sorority Girls, she started using the stage name Mary Carey in 2002 and ran for California governor against The Terminator.

She filed the trademark papers earlier this year.

In October, a lawyer for Mimi sent Mary Carey's representatives a letter threatening legal action if she did not withdraw the application.

"Mary Carey and Mariah Carey share the identical surname and have first names that are very similar," attorney Robert Becker wrote.

And in part because the porn star was seeking the trademark for audio and video recordings, he said, "Confusion between your client and her Mary Carey trademark and our client and its Mariah Carey trademark is therefore likely."

Mr Becker also demanded Mary Carey use her name only for "adult entertainment" and that she not sing or perform music.

"This is a technical procedure to stop a trademark registration. Mariah has no affiliation with Mary Carey," Mariah's spokeswoman Leslie Sloane-Zelnik said.

David Beitchman, a lawyer for Mary Carey, said he believed Mariah stood little chance of winning.

"My first thought was, does Mariah realize what her lawyer is comparing her to and are they seriously concerned?" Mr Beitchman said. "Do they seriously think the fans are going to be confused?"

While I have no law degree, I do know that Mariah has the money to hire a pretty impressive and persuasive team of lawyers. If you side with Mary, the porn star, you had better hope that she gets some volunteer help from some ambulance chasers willing to do pro bono work for a piece of the limelight!