Longtime spokesperson Tom Bodett sues Motel 6
Tom Bodett filed a federal lawsuit against Motel 6, claiming the chain used his voice and name without authorization after their contract ended.
The dispute stems from a missed $1.2 million payment and the breakdown of a nearly 40-year partnership between Bodett and the motel brand.
Motel 6's parent company, G6 Hospitality, said it was surprised by the lawsuit but expressed appreciation for Bodett's contributions.
Tom Bodett, whose warm baritone and iconic line "we'll leave the light on for you" made him the voice of Motel 6 for nearly four decades, is suing the motel chain and its parent company for alleged unauthorized use of his name and voice.
According to a lawsuit filed Monday in Manhattan federal court, Bodett said he ended his relationship with Motel 6 after its new owner, India-based travel firm OYO, failed to make a $1.2 million annual payment due on Jan. 7. Their contract was set to expire in November.
The backstory
Despite the contract lapse, Bodett claims Motel 6 continued using his voice and name on its national reservation phone line. The lawsuit alleges violations of both his contract rights and federal trademark law.
Bodett said he attempted to reach a confidential settlement that would honor his legacy and protect Motel 6's reputation and franchisees, but accused the company of responding with "misrepresentations, obfuscations, and delay tactics."
The lawsuit seeks $1.2 million in owed compensation, along with additional damages and a share of profits.
What they're saying
A spokesperson for G6 Hospitality, the parent company of Motel 6, said the company was "surprised" by Bodett's lawsuit but indicated it hoped for an amicable resolution.
"We appreciate Mr. Bodett's contributions over the past years," the spokesperson said. "Of course, we will continue to advertise keeping the lights on for you."
Bodett, when contacted by email, told Reuters: "The complaint says all there is to say."
Tom Bodett became Motel 6's lead spokesman in 1986 and said he coined the phrase "we'll leave the light on for you" during an unscripted ad-lib. His voice became synonymous with the brand's down-to-earth identity and was featured in both radio and TV campaigns for decades.
In addition to his advertising work, Bodett is known for his appearances on National Public Radio and for narrating several Ken Burns documentaries.
What's next
The lawsuit, Bodett et al v G6 Hospitality LLC et al, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. It could set a notable precedent for voice usage and contract rights in long-term brand relationships, especially as companies change ownership.
The Source
This report is based on original reporting from Reuters, which first detailed the lawsuit filed by Tom Bodett against Motel 6 and its parent company G6 Hospitality. The article includes direct quotes from legal filings and statements provided to Reuters by both Bodett and Motel 6.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Entrepreneur
26 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
Stride Ventures Marks First Close of ADGM Fund V to Back GCC Startups
The firm has already built a pipeline worth USD 110 million across key sectors including fintech, healthtech, logistics, and climate tech, with typical transaction sizes averaging USD 10–15 million. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Indian venture debt firm Stride Ventures has announced the first close of its ADGM Fund V, marking a significant step in its expansion across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. While the firm did not disclose the size of the fund or the amount raised, it confirmed that the vehicle will provide non-dilutive, shariah-compliant capital to high-growth startups. "With ADGM Fund V, we aim to support the region's innovation economy with flexible capital that empowers founders without equity dilution," said Ishpreet Singh Gandhi, Founder and Managing Partner at Stride Ventures. "The region is at the centre of one of the most dynamic growth stories of our time-driven by a clear vision for economic diversification and global competitiveness. At Stride Ventures, we are here to be a long-term partner in that journey." The firm has already built a pipeline worth USD 110 million across key sectors including fintech, healthtech, logistics, and climate tech, with typical transaction sizes averaging USD 10–15 million. Stride Ventures aims to triple its assets under management (AUM) in the GCC to over USD 500 million by 2026, with a sharp focus on Saudi Arabia. The firm credited initiatives like the Riyadh Digital Innovation District (RDID) and The Garage—both spearheaded by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City—for providing a conducive environment for venture debt expansion. Stride has also doubled its regional footprint and is partnering with top banks to increase access to venture debt for next-generation businesses. "Our collaborations with leading banks and local ecosystems will ensure founders get the capital they need to scale, while retaining control of their businesses," Gandhi added.
San Francisco Chronicle
38 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Dubai's booming restaurant scene is feeling the heat of high costs and high failure rates
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — From suspended tables to underwater lounges, some 13,000 food and drink establishments in Dubai pull out all the stops to attract customers in one of the world's most saturated dining markets. They cater to all tastes and budgets. Some spots ladle out inexpensive biryani while others offer dishes dusted with edible gold. These are some of the ways the emirate is competing with its neighbors Saudi Arabia and Qatar for tourist dollars and, so far, it's beating them handily. Dubai has more restaurants per capita than any major city except Paris. But the city-state's booming restaurant scene is testing the limits of its growth-at-all-costs model, raising questions about how long Dubai can keep feeding its own ambitions. A crowded and competitive market The competition is cutthroat, so presentation is key. 'Gone are the days when it just tastes good,' said Kym Barter, the general manager of Atlantis The Palm, a resort perched on a manmade archipelago that boasts more Michelin stars than any other venue in the Middle East. But dazzling Dubai's food bloggers — the most popular of whom have millions of social media followers — isn't enough. Staying afloat means battling high rents and winning over a diverse and demanding group of consumers. Dubai has roughly nine expatriate residents for every Emirati citizen. Most of its private sector workers are migrants on temporary contracts, and only Vatican City has a higher share of foreign-born residents. Tourists, in turn, outnumber locals about five to one by some estimates, and they spend lavishly. Visitors to Dubai drop an average of over five times more than those traveling to nearby Saudi Arabia or even the U.S., according to global restaurant consultant Aaron Allen. Dubai is 'on the right path' to becoming the world's food capital, said Torsten Vildgaard, executive chef at FZN by Björn Frantzén. The restaurant, which runs at more than $540 a head, was one of two in Dubai to nab three Michelin stars in May. 'We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg of what's to come in terms of gastronomy here,' Vildgaard added. With each new set of illuminated high-rises and hotels, another crop of eateries emerge, vying for patrons. The legions of construction workers powering Dubai's progress also need affordable options. That growth, propped up in part by investor pressure on some of the world's biggest chains to expand in Dubai, has created what some analysts warn is a bubble. 'If you're a publicly traded company like Americana, what are you supposed to do — just stop opening restaurants?' restaurant consultant Allen said, referring to the Gulf-based operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and other big franchises. The frenetic expansion of Dubai's restaurant industry is part of a regional shift that has seen Gulf Arab states pour hundreds of billions of dollars into building out tourist destinations as they move away from hydrocarbons to diversify their economies. Saudi Arabia has a high-stakes, $500 billion project: a straight-line futuristic city called Neom. But, in a Muslim-majority region, the United Arab Emirates has gone to lengths that some consider too much of a compromise, including relaxing restrictions on alcohol that fuel its pubs and nightlife and other social reforms. High costs and failure rates The rapid development comes at a price. Dubai's restaurants have a high failure rate, industry veterans say, though local authorities don't say what the rate of closures is. In the downtown district and other prime areas, annual rents for restaurants can top $100 per square foot. That's on a par with some of the world's most expensive cities. Still, the emirate issued almost 1,200 new restaurant licenses last year, according to Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. The department declined to respond to questions. Empty tables during peak hours are common, even in top locations. Part of the problem, managers say, is that traffic congestion is so severe that convincing diners to drive out can be a tall task. 'I sometimes go, 'Do I go into the restaurant right now, because I'm going to get into traffic?''' said Waseem Abdul Hameed, operations manager at Ravi, a Pakistani family-owned eatery famous for its official Adidas shoe line and a 2010 TV feature from Anthony Bourdain. He knows restaurateurs who have had to shut up shop and others who are squeezed by slim margins and increasingly reliant on delivery apps, Hameed said. The demand sends fleets of migrant workers racing through gridlock on motorbikes, with few protections and tight delivery windows. Emirati newspaper Khaleej Times reported the accidental deaths of 17 Dubai food couriers last year. The math of Dubai's restaurant scene doesn't add up, delivery apps and wealthy tourists notwithstanding, restaurant consultant Allen said. He cited operating expenses that have more than doubled relative to sales since 2009, when a financial crisis almost hobbled the emirate. Too many Dubai entrepreneurs, he put it simply, have 'too much money, and they don't know what to do besides open restaurants.'
Entrepreneur
41 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
Maieutic Semiconductor Raises USD 4.15 Mn from Endiya and Exfinity
With this new round of funding, Maieutic plans to expand its engineering team and significantly improve time to market. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Maieutic Semiconductor, a deep-tech startup focused on transforming analog chip design, has raised USD 4.15 million in seed funding. The round was co-led by Endiya Partners and Exfinity Venture Partners, with the funds aimed at expanding its engineering team and accelerating its generative AI-powered chip design platform. Founded in Bengaluru by semiconductor veterans Gireesh Rajendran (CEO), Ashish Lachhwani (CBO), Rakesh Kumar (CPO), and Krishna Sankar (CTO), Maieutic is building the world's first GenAI copilot for analog semiconductor design. The founders, who collectively hold over 70 patents and have delivered products that have sold over a billion units globally, bring decades of experience in AI, analog design, and product commercialization. Maieutic's platform addresses a traditionally slow and manual domain of semiconductor design by applying generative AI to automate early-stage development, detect bugs, and optimise design trade-offs. The company aims to drastically reduce design cycles—from weeks to days—and empower engineers with intelligent tools to scale innovation. "Semiconductor design has remained largely untouched by modern productivity enhancements," said Gireesh Rajendran, who previously co-founded Steradian Semiconductors. "At Maieutic, we're blending deep analog design expertise with cutting-edge AI to build a copilot that brings speed, intelligence, and scalability to analog chip development." The funding will support team expansion and accelerate the go-to-market efforts of Maieutic's GenAI platform, which is poised to make a significant impact in critical industries like communications, automotive, and industrial electronics. "Maieutic is solving a real problem that's resisted automation for decades," said Sateesh Andra, Managing Partner at Endiya. "Their AI-first approach has the potential to redefine analog chip design and place India on the global semiconductor map." Chinnu Senthilkumar of Exfinity added, "This team is uniquely positioned to disrupt a complex, underserved market with bold innovation. We're proud to back them."
