The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a renowned hub ofculture in New York City.

The Lincoln Center is a multi-purpose facility designed forlivestock shows and family reunions in Brookhaven.

Confusing? It is to New Yorkers, apparently.

Lincoln County Supervisors on Monday expressed disbelief,followed by unbridled sarcasm, as board attorney Bob Allen read aletter from LCPA officials claiming the new name of the formerLincoln County Multi-Purpose Facility infringes on trademark rightsand demanding supervisors revise its name again. Supervisorschristened the facility as the Lincoln Center in October to betterreflect programs it can offer beyond agricultural events.

But LCPA officials are not pleased with the facility’s newappeal. The letter states that local use of the term Lincoln Center”… is likely to cause confusion with the trademark rights of LCPAand/or to impair the goodwill associated with our name is anencroachment upon our rights.”

“I can see where if the Russian ballet were to come there wouldbe confusion that it would be held in Brookhaven,” Allen said assupervisors began to smirk. “I tried to call them and inquire aboutthe issue, but the people in New York do not have the same sense ofhumor I have.”

After looking into the trademark rights, Allen admitted thatLincoln County’s use of the term “Lincoln Center” is possibly aninfringement of LCPA’s intellectual property. He recommendedsupervisors consider the matter seriously, considering LCPA”probably has more to spend on the litigation than we do.”

Supervisors agreed to take the matter under consideration.

But after an executive session to discuss possible misconduct bya county employee and a serious meeting with an impending newindustry, supervisors needed a laugh, and they took it at LCPA’sexpense.

District Four Supervisor Doug Moak suggested the local LincolnCenter might be a good venue for the Russian ballet after all.

“We can let the ballet people stay in the campers out there,” hesaid, referring to the facility’s new RV park.

Moak invoked Russia again when it was suggested supervisorscircumvent LCPA’s trademark claim by renaming the Lincoln Center tothe Lincoln Centre, utilizing the French spelling.

“That will give us a little class, too – get that ballet inhere!” he said.

District Two Supervisor Bobby Watts recommended Allen requestLCPA governors come to Brookhaven for a tour of the Lincoln Centerto experience it firsthand. District Three Supervisor NolanWilliamson suggested supervisors clear up the trademarkinfringement issue by selling the local facility’s managementrights to LCPA.

“About $72 million ought to take it,” he said.

Lincoln Center Manager Quinn Jordan said he and the LincolnCenter Commission did not realize the LCPA, which describes itselfin the letter as “world-famous,” even existed. He said the localfacility’s new name was based on the county and the facility beingthe county’s center.

“Apparently, they weren’t Mississippi-wide, they’re justworldwide,” Jordan said of LCPA. “I told them when they called meif they couldn’t host the next big orchestra we’d be glad to doit.”

In all seriousness, Jordan said he and the commission wouldapologize to LCPA if the alleged trademark infringement had hurtthe New York City organization’s business. He said the commissionis taking the matter “very seriously.”

Back to silliness, Jordan said he was proud the Lincoln Centerand The DAILY LEADER were marketing and advertising worldwide.LCPA’s letter stated it first became aware of the allegedinfringement via a story on The DAILY LEADER’s Web site.

“I didn’t realize circulation had made it to New York and aroundthe world. The DAILY LEADER has went global,” Jordan said.

Ruth Philips, who drafted the LCPA letter, declined to commentwhen contacted Monday afternoon. In her letter, she said she waslooking forward to the county’s “affirmative response” within 10days.