Trademark battle: FKA twigs artist-name dispute with The Twigs

The legal dispute described as FKA twigs artist-name trademark dispute with The Twigs involves Tahliah Barnett, who filed a lawsuit in March seeking full rights to her artist name, and the musical duo The Twigs.

The Twigs filed a countersuit earlier this week alleging Barnett used her fame, record label backing, resources, celebrity and market presence to overwhelm their goodwill and misappropriate their trademark rights; they seek an injunction blocking Barnett from using the name FKA twigs and financial compensation for trademark infringement.

Barnett had been based in the United Kingdom and focused on acting and dancing before 2019’s MAGDAELENE, after which she re-entered music and signed with Atlantic Records.

Barnett filed a trademark application for her name last year in connection with the EUSEXUA album, and The Twigs contend that Barnett began dropping the ‘FKA’ prefix from her name in certain public appearances in recent years.

In March, Tahliah Barnett, known professionally as FKA twigs, initiated a lawsuit against the musical duo The Twigs to secure the full rights to her artist name. This legal move led to The Twigs filing a countersuit, arguing that Barnett leveraged her fame and industry backing to undermine their goodwill and misappropriate their trademark rights. The Twigs are seeking an injunction to prevent Barnett from using the name FKA twigs and are claiming financial compensation for the alleged infringement.

Before focusing on her music career post-2019, Barnett was based in the UK and mainly pursued acting and dancing. Following the release of her album “MAGDAELENE,” she re-entered the music scene and signed with Atlantic Records. Last year, Barnett submitted a trademark application related to her name concerning the album “EUSEXUA.” Additionally, The Twigs have alleged that Barnett has been increasingly appearing publicly without the ‘FKA’ prefix, which they claim is a part of her encroachment on their trademark rights.

The Twigs filed a countersuit earlier this week asserting trademark claims against Tahliah Barnett. The countersuit alleges that “Barnett’s use of her greater fame, record label backing, resources, celebrity and market presence to overwhelm The Twigs’ goodwill and misappropriate it infringes counterclaim-plaintiffs’ trademark rights.” The Twigs seek an injunction blocking Barnett from using the name FKA twigs and request financial compensation for trademark infringement. The counterclaim frames those requested remedies as responses to the alleged misappropriation of the duo’s goodwill and the alleged infringement of their trademark rights.

The Twigs also allege that “Barnett intentionally used her celebrity and resulting power with the media to act in ways designed to increase the public’s association of Barnett and her musical services with ‘Twigs’, while eroding and overwhelming counterclaim-plaintiffs’ goodwill.” The Twigs claim Barnett began dropping the ‘FKA’ prefix from her name in certain public appearances in recent years. The countersuit presents the alleged media-driven association and the reported omission of the prefix as conduct that harmed The Twigs’ goodwill and trademark interests. The Twigs identify those alleged acts as central elements of their counterclaim of misappropriation and trademark infringement.

The trademark dispute centers on filings and lawsuits over the artist name. In March, Barnett filed a lawsuit seeking full rights to her artist name. Barnett filed a trademark application for her name last year in connection with the EUSEXUA album. The Twigs have filed a countersuit seeking an injunction to block Barnett from using the name FKA twigs and financial compensation for trademark infringement.

The Twigs allege changes in Barnett’s public name usage and related media behavior. They claim Barnett began dropping the ‘FKA’ prefix in certain public appearances in recent years. In their countersuit they state that “Barnett intentionally used her celebrity and resulting power with the media to act in ways designed to increase the public’s association of Barnett and her musical services with ‘Twigs’, while eroding and overwhelming counterclaim-plaintiffs’ goodwill.” The Twigs also allege that “Barnett’s use of her greater fame, record label backing, resources, celebrity and market presence to overwhelm The Twigs’ goodwill and misappropriate it infringes counterclaim-plaintiffs’ trademark rights.”

The Quietus reported on the trademark dispute between FKA twigs and The Twigs, noting coverage from outlets such as Billboard. Organizations mentioned include The Twigs and Atlantic Records. The article references Barnett’s releases MAGDAELENE and EUSEXUA in connection with her career and her trademark filing. Billboard and The Quietus are the primary media entities cited in coverage of the dispute.

The FKA twigs artist-name trademark dispute with The Twigs centers on competing legal claims over ownership and use of the name. In March, Tahliah Barnett filed a lawsuit seeking full rights to her artist name, and The Twigs filed a countersuit earlier this week alleging Barnett used her fame, record label backing, resources, celebrity and market presence to overwhelm The Twigs’ goodwill and misappropriate their trademark rights. The Twigs seek an injunction blocking Barnett from using the name FKA twigs and seek financial compensation for trademark infringement. Barnett filed a trademark application for her name last year in connection with the EUSEXUA album, and the countersuit alleges Barnett began dropping the ‘FKA’ prefix from her name in certain public appearances in recent years.