This combination photo shows singer Mariah Carey (left) performing in Miami on August 5, and adult film actress Mary Carey (right) posing in Norwalk on August 9. Singer Mariah Carey is trying to block porn star-turned-politician Carey from trademarking her similar-sounding stage name, saying that fans could get the two performers confused. But the adult film actress, whose real name is Mary Cook, said on December 8 that she would not be intimidated by the international superstar and will press forward with her trademark application. - REUTERS

LOS ANGELES (Reuters):

Grammy-winning pop singer Mariah Carey is trying to block porn star-turned-politician Mary Carey from trademarking her similar-sounding stage name, saying that fans could get the two performers confused.

But the adult film actress, whose real name is Mary Cook, said on Friday that she would not be intimidated by the international superstar and will press forward with her trademark application.

"I'm ready to battle Mariah over this because I've been Mary Carey for a long time," Mary Carey told Reuters. "It's kind of funny because I'm a porn star and I've been being myself for a long time. I think she's being silly."

The star of such films as Double Air Bags 11 and Boobsville Sorority Girls, Mary Cook started using the stage name Mary Carey in 2002 and once ran for California governor against Arnold Schwarzenegger, filed the trademark papers earlier this year.

Possible Confusion

In October, a lawyer for Mariah Carey sent Mary Carey's representatives a letter threatening legal action if she did not withdraw the application.

"MARY CAREY and MARIAH CAREY share the identical surname and have first names that are very similar," attorney Robert Becker wrote. And in part because the porn star was seeking the trademark for audio and video recordings, he said, "Confusion between your client and her MARY CAREY trademark and our client and its MARIAH CAREY trademark is therefore likely."

Becker also demanded that Mary Carey use her name only for "adult entertainment" and that she not sing or perform music.

David Beitchman, a lawyer for Mary Carey, said he believed Mariah Carey stood little chance of winning.

"My first thought was, does Mariah Carey realise what her lawyer is comparing her to and are they seriously concerned?" Beitchman said. "Do they seriously think the fans are going to be confused?"