Ono denies suing Lennon

Late Beatle John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono has slammed "hurtful" reports claiming she is suing a singer/songwriter for naming her band Lennon.

Ono was reported to have filed court papers accusing rocker Lennon Murphy of fraudulently registering Lennon as a trademark and for the "tarnishment" and exploitation of her late husband's name.

But the 74-year-old insists she has not taken legal action against Murphy - she simply tried to stop her from getting the exclusive rights to use the name Lennon for performance purposes by notifying the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Ono says: "I am really hurt if people thought that I told a young artist to not use her own name in her performances and had sought to sue her. I did no such thing. I hope this allegation will be cleared."

John Lennon was shot dead in New York City in December 1980.