One Direction Being Sued Over Trademark Infringement

Hit UK boy band One Direction may be forced to change their name as a California group with the same name are suing over trademark infringement. Lawyers in the US have filed for an injunction to block UK's One Direction from using the name in the future, and are also seeking out compensation and a share of future profits. They claim in the legal papers field at the California Central District Court on Monday that Sony Music and the record label Syco were fully aware of the duplication of the One Direction band name but decided to ignore the US band's name rights and refused to think of an alternative for their group. They say specifically in the court papers that Syco and Sony "chose to ignore the plaintiff's rights and wilfully infringed them" and say that they are suffering a "substantial confusion and substantial damage" as One Direction UK have just sold out their debut tour in America. Their first album "Up All Night" also just leaped straight to number one on the billboard charts, the first time a British band has ever done that with a debut album release. One Direction US, who have existed with that name since 2009 and applied for a trademark to the name in February 2011 are asking for over $1 million (£630,000) in damages, claiming they are entitled to three times the profits made by the UK group for the infringement. Syco responded by issuing a statement which said; "There is a dispute with a local group in California about the ownership of the One Direction name in the US. "One Direction's management tried to resolve the situation amicably when the matter first came to light, but the Californian group has now filed a lawsuit claiming they own the name. "One Direction's lawyers now have no choice but to defend the lawsuit and the band's right to use their name." source - bbc