Joey Ramone's brother, Mitchel Hyman (Mickey Leigh), has filed a lawsuit against Johnny Ramone's widow, Linda Cummings-Ramone, over alleged misuse of the band's trademarks and intellectual property.

The dispute centers on the complex ownership of The Ramones' intellectual property, which is split between these two heirs. None of the original band members were actually related, having adopted the surname "Ramone" professionally.

Key points of the lawsuit:

• Leigh accuses Cummings-Ramone of exploiting the band's legacy by presenting herself as the primary spokesperson and "keeper of the legacy"
• The lawsuit claims she adopted the name "Linda Ramone" only after her husband John Cummings' death
• Leigh alleges she has exceeded previously established legal limits on using the Ramone name
• The filing describes her as a "former groupie" whose self-promotion infringes on the band's legacy

This legal action follows a previous dispute from January when Cummings-Ramone filed her own lawsuit regarding Netflix's planned biopic based on Mickey Leigh's memoir, "I Slept With Joey Ramone," claiming it would present a one-sided history of the band.

The ongoing conflict highlights the challenges of managing a legendary band's legacy when multiple parties claim ownership rights to its intellectual property.

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