This Piano Man Is Trademarked

PIANO MAN BILLY JOEL IS NOT only a big-shot musician, he's also a cautious enough businessman to use the registered trademark symbol next to his name in record-club catalogs. Although many top acts have trademarked names, few place the mark in print next to their monikers. Some find it overly commercial or just plain tacky.

Not Joel. For the longest time, celebs have groused about hawkers of unlicensed T-shirts and souvenirs. Joel claims he once lost big bucks in a management dispute. But with the added trademark protection, he can take on the hucksters of knockoff merchandise when he kicks off a tour this month. His lawyer, Meyer Gross, said the entertainer can now seek damages from trademark violators from the time the infractions began, instead of when they were notified of the violation.