According to Billboard Magazine OutKast has taken legal action against the electronic dance music duo ATLiens, claiming trademark infringement over the name that shares its title with one of their most famous songs. The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in a Georgia federal court, where Big Boi (Antwan Patton) and André 3000 (André Benjamin) argue that “ATLiens,” a term they coined, is a unique linguistic creation that has become synonymous with their brand.
Billboard reports that the lawsuit emphasizes that the term “ATLiens” was invented by OutKast and was not part of the cultural lexicon prior to their use. They assert that the EDM duo’s adoption of the name is likely to confuse fans and mislead the public about their identity. “The word ATLiens was invented by OutKast. Before OutKast created it, it was not used in the cultural lexicon and did not exist,” the lawsuit states, highlighting the potential for consumer confusion.
Released in 1996, OutKast’s album *ATLiens* is a cornerstone of their discography, featuring the title track that reached No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 33 weeks on the Billboard 200. The duo continues to perform the song at nearly every live show, reinforcing its significance in their career.
According to the lawsuit, the ATLiens duo began using the name in 2012 and later registered it as a trademark without OutKast’s knowledge. The complaint alleges that the two groups are not only similar in name but also in their musical genres, which could further mislead fans. OutKast’s lawyers argue that the masked performances of the EDM duo could lead audiences to mistakenly believe they are affiliated with the iconic hip-hop group.
OutKast has reportedly attempted to resolve the issue amicably, but claims that ATLiens has persisted in using the name in ways that could confuse fans, such as promotional materials that echo OutKast’s branding. The lawsuit indicates that OutKast’s management has received inquiries from fans about possible connections to the ATLiens’ upcoming shows.
Representatives for ATLiens have not yet commented on the lawsuit. The case is being pursued by High Schoolers LLC, the holding company that manages OutKast’s trademarks, as they seek to protect their intellectual property and brand identity in the music industry.
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Citations:
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/EDM/comments/1ezjiov/outkast_sues_edm_duo_atliens_claiming
[2] https://www.billboard.com/pro/outkast-lawsuit-edm-duo-atliens-infringement-song-album-name/
[3] https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/outkast-atliens-trademark-lawsuit-1235086593/
[4] https://www.bet.com/article/bijwru/outkast-files-lawsuit-against-edm-duo-atliens-for-trademark-infringement
[5] https://hiphopdx.com/news/outkast-lawsuit-edm-duo-atliens-trademark-infringement
[6] https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/outkast-suing-atlanta-edm-duo-over-atliens-name
[7] https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/outkast-sues-edm-duo-atliens-230435623.html