One Direction wins entertainment lawsuit over name
By Pankaj Ladhar of Manos • Alwine P.L.
Back in June, we told Miami readers about how British boy-band sensation One Direction had been sued by an American group, also known as One Direction, over the use of the name.
Now, this entertainment lawsuit has been settled: The British One Direction will continue using the name, while the American band will go by the new moniker Uncharted Shores. If any money changed hands in reaching this agreement.
The American group sued the British group earlier this year, claiming that it had been using the name One Direction for a long time and that the British band’s fame and success were cutting into its own.
The British one direction countersued, essentially claiming the American group’s lawsuit was extortion. One Direction has made history as the first British group to have its debut album premiere at the top of the U.S. pop charts — a feat Dusty Springfield, the Beatles and the Spice Girls never managed – and has become a bona fide sensation in the English-speaking world on par with Canadian heartthrob Justin Bieber.
This story is worth telling Miami residents about because many of us work in the entertainment industry, and entertainment professionals understand that your reputation and personal brand are incredibly valuable. Many prudent entertainment industry professionals work with attorneys to make sure that their names are reasonably protected against infringement or dilution.
We often work with singers, actors and models on such issues. If you are interested in learning more about the clients we serve and the work we do, you could visit our Entertainment Law website.
Source: BBC, “One Direction win fight against US band to keep name,” Amelia Butterly, Sept. 4, 2012