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One Direction at Center of $1 Million Lawsuit

Truth rating: 10

7:56 pm, April 10th, 2012

(GettyImages)

The One Direction “British Invasion” in America has left one U.S. band none too pleased.

An American group also called One Direction has filed a lawsuit against Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and Sony Music over the UK boy band’s name.

According to the U.S. One Direction’s attorney Peter Ross, Cowell’s company knowingly brought its One Direction into the American marketplace even though there was already another group in the States going by that name.

“Rather than change their name or do anything to create confusion or avoid damage to our good will, they chose to press ahead and come on their tour,” Ross says.

RELATED – One Direction Member Dating U.S. Singer?

Now, confusion has indeed ensued, with even the “Today” show allegedly playing the wrong One Direction music during the UK band’s recent appearance on the morning show.

The lawyer adds that fans searching for the British One Direction on YouTube have been surprised and even angered when inadvertently finding music by the American group, allegedly going as far as leaving insulting comments.

Of course, being confused with one of pop music’s hottest acts also has its upsides.

RELATED – Watch: One Direction Performs on “SNL”

The U.S. One Direction, which currently isn’t signed to a record label, has reportedly seen increased YouTube views and iTunes sales for its song “2012.”

Still, Ross tells The Hollywood Reporter, “We’ve been in negotiations for a month to find a resolution. In our view, the negotiations weren’t turning out to be very productive.”

Consequently, Ross has filed suit on the band’s behalf, seeking an injunction and $1 million in damages.

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  • Anonymous

    If anything, they should be thanking British 1D for the publicity

  • melanie

    ell.. I have to say something.. FIRST if the american band was formed in 2009 IT SURE TOOK SUCH A LONG DAMN TIME TO FINALLY SAY SOMETHING I MEAN ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY? I mean seriously. I HAVE NO IDEA who these people are.
    ALSO
    One Direction US’s Youtube was made on May 12, 2011.. One Direction UK’s account was made on Dec 4, 2010. -.- The US One i haven’t seen a video of them singing live so they probably suck without autotune. While the UK One Direction sings live like a lot and their voices are great.. I think the US one shouldn’t argue i mean One Direction UK have tons of fans.

  • Melanie

    Well.. I have to say something.. FIRST if the american band was formed in 2009 IT SURE TOOK SUCH A LONG DAMN TIME TO FINALLY SAY SOMETHING I MEAN ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY? I mean seriously. I HAVE NO IDEA who these people are.
    ALSO
    One Direction US’s Youtube was made on May 12, 2011.. One Direction UK’s account was made on Dec 4, 2010. -.- The US One i haven’t seen a video of them singing live so they probably suck without autotune. While the UK One Direction sings live like a lot and their voices are great.. I think the US one shouldn’t argue i mean One Direction UK have tons of fans.

  • Anonymous

    Haha that’s what I was thinking while reading this

  • Emmiebabii77

    They US band is only saying crap now so they get money. like WTF. One Direction is from the UK. So shut up you stupid Californian band. You only want money!

  • Ahahha

    They are jealous because 1D UK HAS 6548946549978456 FANS out there
    they just want some of that money LMAIO

  • http://www.desbreastcancer.com/ Marlyn Gaither

    The lawyer adds that fans searching for the British One Direction on YouTube have been surprised

  • Regina1180

    If the US band can prove that they had the name first, the UK kids might be in a jam here. Even if the US version doesnt have a fraction of the fame, it’s thier name.

    Dunn dunn dunnnn.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_63SFUJ622FEIJ65S5YKIQG425A Sophia

    Then why havent I heard of the US One Direction until now??? If anything, they should be thankking the UK One Direction for the publicity!!!! They just want the money

  • mick

    The US One Direction have had the name since 2009. They also filed to trademark their name back in early 2011 months before the UK one had even released their 1st single and made it big. I would consider changing the name if I were Simon and settling out of court. A lot of their fans refer to them as 1D so I think I might change it to that if I were them.

  • Hazyhaze777

    I feel like if hardly anyone has heard of you, you shouldn’t have any kind of right to a name. They didn’t even have a record label. Nobody knew who they were until this. The British One Direction earned their name and turned it into something. The American band, apparently, has not. Those are my personal feelings.

    Professionally, however, if Cowell was actually aware of this and did it anyways, that’s pretty shitty and they need to figure something out, because if the US band actually continues to pursue this lawsuit and can back themselves up, this isn’t gonna fly.

  • VampireAddict

    I was going to say that they should change it to 1D lol. Cuz to their fans, their still considered One Direction anyways, so why not change it to 1D and have it still mean One Direction?

  • Sassenach

    This @&$% is crazy. These kids are from the UK they started their career in the UK. So now americans have the monopoly on EVERYTHING all over the world? Bow to me I am the mighty american. Has anyone every heard of this unknown US version? I sure haven’t. I truely believe that it’s all about the money. You can’t make it with talent (they claim the name since 2009 but nobody heard of them) so they are trying to squeeze money out of other people who have talent and have made it. Just another rediulous law suit that is so freaking popular (and possible) here in the US.

  • Alleyf

    They have been saying something for quite awhile. First they had never heard of the uk bank. When they knew what was happening the steps were taken to get all parties to see what was going to be a conflict of interest for the current US band. They did not respond to lawyers, management etc… legal actions were put into place as were their right. You all are just hearing about thisnow. For those involved this has been old news….

  • Allyf

    Read the comment above from allyf. There is so much the uk fans do not realize. It has been more to your second comment. This is a real band who has worked hard with their own money. They write, play, and record their music. The other is a big marketing machine. This has nothing to do with fame. IT IS ABOUT ETHICS AND LEGAL RIGHTS. It takes money to change your name and whatever music and promotional outgoings you have already in place. Think about it fans this could be anyone of us being pushed around by the guys with the most money. They push the little guys around and do as they please. Because they are making all the money/ Simon Cowell,etc…. Not One Direction UK. I hope these boys (UK) are being taken care of because the saying goes “be careful what you wish for” I DO NOT SEE ENOUGH MUSICAL INTEGRITY TO GO THE LONG HAUL WITH THEM. They will be used up and forgotten by Their music mogul and label.

  • Balls

    You are retarded. Everyone uses Auto Tune even One Direction. No one’s voice is that good. They are famous because of the songs they write not the voices they sing them with.

  • Balls

    Even if no one has heard of them, they still filed for the name first.

  • Balls

    I doubt they just want the money. What’s so great about One Direction anyway?

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