The Hotel California might be such a lovely place, but it’s currently at the center of an ugly lawsuit.
Rock legends the Eagles have filed suit over a Mexican hotel bearing the name Hotel California, also the title of the group’s 1976 album and the title track contained on the album.
In the suit, filed in federal court in California on Monday, Eagles Ltd. says that Hotel California, located in Todos Santos, Mexico, has led consumers to believe that the hotel is associated with the group and served as the inspiration for the lyrics to the song.
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In reality, the complaint alleges, the hotel never sought a license to use the Eagles’ Hotel California trademark, nor did the group grant a license to the establishment.
Despite that, the suit says, the hotel plays “Hotel California” and other Eagles songs throughout the establishment, and sells T-shirts in its gift shop “that refer to the hotel as ‘legendary.’ Such a designation only makes sense if the Todos Santos Hotel is somehow connected with the Eagles’ famous and legendary song, which it is not.”
In addition to the T-shirts, the suit alleges, the hotel has also offered a variety of Hotel California merchandise such as posters, sweatshirts, bathrobes, key chains, playing cards, mugs, guitar picks, and refrigerator magnets.
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The suit contends that the song “Hotel California” is “arguably the band’s most popular song, and in many ways embodies the very essence of the band itself.”
Alleging trademark infringement, the suit is asking for a ban on the company using the Hotel California name.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
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