One of only two surviving members of the original line up of the Motown act, The Four Tops, has won a High Court case, preventing a rival band from recording, performing or creating promotional material incorporating the band’s name.

Viscount Oliver Miller has toured the UK under a registered trademark “Viscount Oliver’s American Dream The Legendary Four Tops”, using photos of the original band.

The court has ordered an injunction to stop Miller from performing under The Four Tops name, and has declared the trademark invalid. Miller’s website has been removed, but used to include a statement to venues requiring them to use only approved publicity material and a statement that “neither he, or any other member of his band, appeared in the original line up of the Four Tops nor appeared on any of their records or have ever sessioned with them. Viscount is paying his own tribute to the original members …”