In early December I was at the DRI Insurance Coverage Conference at New York’s Marriott Marquis. I stepped out to grab lunch and could not believe what I saw – Times Square’s iconic Naked Cowboy, and, get this, reading Coverage Opinions! Of course I went up to him and thanked him for being a reader. We chatted about the K2 decision and the ALI’s recent decision to change the Principles project to a Restatement.

By the way, if you are unfamiliar with this fixture of Times Square, the Naked Cowboy’s story is an interesting one. He has his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati, has been performing on Times Square for twelve years, has an endorsement deal with Fruit of the Loom and declared himself a Presidential candidate in 2010.

And the Naked Cowboy has been a friend to lawyers. According to Wikipedia, Mars created a short animation of a Blue M&M’s character playing a guitar while dressed in a white cowboy hat, cowboy boots and underpants. The company displayed it on the outside of the M&M’S store in Times Square. The Naked Cowboy, who owns registered trademarks to the Naked Cowboy name and likeness, was not pleased. He filed a trademark infringement suit against Mars. A settlement was reached. The terms were not disclosed.

Also according to Wikipedia, the Naked Cowboy filed a trademark infringement suit against CBS, claiming that the network’s use of a “Naked Cowboy”-like figure, in an ad for a television show, demeaned his image with its ‘drunk and sexually charged portrayal.’ I don’t know what happened with that one.

So the next time you are in Times Square say hello to the Naked Cowboy and let him know that you also read Coverage Opinions.