High Schoolers LLC, a trademark holding company controlled by Outkast's André 3000 and Big Boi, has filed a federal lawsuit against Atlanta electronic dance music duo ATLiens. In the lawsuit, obtained by Pitchfork, lawyers for the LLC claim that Outkast coined the term “ATLiens” and have been using and trademarking it since 1996. The EDM duo, the lawyers claim, have infringed on Outkast's trademark trademark and uses the trademark without authorization.
In the complaint, the lawyers say the band ATLiens registered for their trademark in 2020, claiming they've been using the name since 2012 — long after the 1996 release of Outkast's beloved second studio album, ATLiens. The lawyers argue that the competing trademark “prevents the Plaintiff [High Schoolers LLC] from being able to obtain registrations for ATLIENS' superior mark.'
They also allege that the duo chose their name “to capitalize on the tremendous fame and goodwill associated with Plaintiff's ATLIENS album, song and mark or, at the very least, to bring to consumers' minds the famous album, song and plaintiff's mark ATLIENS.'
Through the lawsuit, the LLC and its attorneys are asking a Georgia federal court to block the ATLiens group from using the “ATLiens” trademark. They are also seeking cancellation of the duo's competing trademark, among other demands.
When reached by Pitchfork, attorneys Abigail J. Remore and Peter E. Nussbaum shared the following statement on behalf of High Schoolers LLC and André 3000: “This is a core trademark issue. Efforts to amicably resolve this matter have unfortunately failed, and Outkast has therefore had to file a lawsuit in order to protect the valuable ATLIENS name and trademark that they have created and used continuously for nearly 30 years.”
Pitchfork also emailed an attorney for ATLiens Touring Inc. for comments.
