A ruling has been announced in the battle for use of the stage name En Vogue. Originally, the name came about in the late ‘80s and has applied to various incarnations of a popular all-female R&B group, but these days, according to a judge, Cindy Herron and Terry Ellis are the only founding members allowed to use it.

Herron, Ellis and Maxine Jones and Dawn Robinson began recording together as En Vogue in 1989. Their earlier music reached the top of the charts and was awarded accolades and coveted industry nods. However, a series of management disputes and solo ventures eventually led to the recent arbitration.

In August 2012, for example, Jones and Robinson attempted to form their own group and book gigs as En Vogue. Herron and Ellis had already formed a limited liability company, En Vogue Enterprises, LLC, in 2006.

The LLC apparently gave Herron and Ellis legal leverage.

Now, Jones (who was the only one named as a “Respondent” to the claim filed by Herron and Ellis) is explicitly limited in how she may use the trademark name: in “non-derogatory biographical information primarily of a personal nature,” and “professionally as ‘formerly of En Vogue’ or words to that effect.”

Herron and Ellis may also recover from Jones some $15,000 in legal and arbitration fees.

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