I’ll be Frank. I know of no other artist who’s estate is managed with the Zeal of Frank Vincent Zappa’s. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if I hear from Gail soon telling me that even this here use ain’t ‘Fair.”
A copyright attorney was one of the first to tell me that Zappa’s IP enforcement and techniques were case worthy. For instance Frank Zappa is trademarked and any use with with songs that may eventually lose copyright protection (FZ life plus 70 years) could not be pinched while the Zappa Family Trust continues to operate (what when Dweezil has a great grandchild.) But I can’t fault them. They got to make a living and that is how they do it.
Though he always attracted a certain type of non-conformist and his sense of humory is legendary, Frank was always tough. I saw him at the Felt Forum on Halloween of 1984. He wouldn’t go on until a beer bottle that was spotted in the audience was removed. He stopped the show – that crowd of New York concert goers proved to eventually do a good job of policing itself and the Lowenbrau Light bottle was quite promptly removed.
I’m not sure how the Project/Object writing above relates to his IP. There is actually a non-authorized “Eff Zee” band in New York using the name. It’s a solid concept to report on and something similar may be noted in my original work.
P.S. notice how Frank’s family’s attention to quality and correctness translate to the official website. Zappa.com is one of the best I have seen.
