Pop diva set to battle porn star over stage name similarity

Grammy-winning pop singer Mariah Carey is trying to block 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 she would not be intimidated by the international superstar.

“I’m ready to battle Mariah over this because I’ve been Mary Carey for a long time. 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,” Carey said.

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 Arnold Schwarzenegger. She filed the trademark papers earlier this year.

In October, a lawyer for Mariah Carey 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.”

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

“My first thought was, does Mariah Carey realise what her lawyer is comparing her to and are they seriously concerned?” he said.