RonJonSurfer Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Plumbers fight for famous phone number LINCOLN, R.I. - One-hit wonder Tommy Tutone made the phone number 867-5309 famous in the band's 1982 hit single, which uses the digits over and over in its catchy refrain. Now, a Rhode Island company and a national firm are battling over the right to use the number, which doesn't reach the "Jenny" that Tutone sings about, but could find callers a decent plumber. Two years ago, Gem Plumbing & Heating of Lincoln, R.I., trademarked the phone number in the early 1980s hit, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Gem acquired the number in Rhode Island when its original owner, Brown University, gave up 867-5309 after growing weary of the constant prank calls. Gem's number works in the 401 area code in Rhode Island and the 617 area code in southern Massachusetts. But Florida-based Clockwork Home Services, also a plumbing company, uses a toll-free version of 867-5309 in New England. They argue a company can only trademark a vanity number, like 1-800-FLOWERS. Gem won round one in its legal fight over the number when a federal judge in Boston recently barred Clockwork from using the number in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, effective this week. But Clockwork's lawyers said they would fight on. Tommy "Tutone" Heath told The Boston Globe that he'd prefer if neither company used the number. "It's ridiculous," said Heath. "If I wanted to get into it, I could probably take the number away from both of them." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayzor Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 He could... and just leave the line open. No prank calls that way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Yeah, then he could be totally forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Fish Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Evryone is totally forgotten it time RonJon, unless your name is Ajax or Achilles... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayzor Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 (edited) I had already forgotten about him... until this story came out. Once this is settled I will go back to forgetting him! Edited May 20, 2007 by Guest Bloof noticed my poor english... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Fish Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 forgot him razor, to having forgot him.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayzor Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 How about what I put? That make any sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Evryone is totally forgotten it time RonJon, unless your name is Ajax or Achilles... some faster than others... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Evryone is totally forgotten it time RonJon, unless your name is Ajax or Achilles... I could never forget Ajax. In fact we have a close personal relationship. I've cleaned my tub with it for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 But how about that headline , folks ?! :guitar: Don't tell me you're starting to take them for granted now ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 Thank you sir..welcome back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 I want it for my phone number! A guy who used to work with me would call me "Tommy Tutone" as a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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