ATLANTA — OutKast is suing an EDM group called "ATLiens" for trademark infringement.
In a federal lawsuit filed in Georgia, lawyers for Big Boi and André 3000 argue that the EDM group is using the name, which is a combination of aliens and Atlanta, and it's confusing fans.
"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 stated. "Defendant’s use of the ATLIENS mark is likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake, or to deceive the public into the false belief that the services offered by Defendant come from or are otherwise sponsored by, connected with, or affiliated with Plaintiff."
Back in 1996, OutKast released their second album, "ATLiens."
"OUTKAST’s “ATLiens” album received universal acclaim from music critics upon its release and has since been regarded by many to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time," the lawsuit stated. "The ATLiens album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and sold nearly 350,000 copies in its first two weeks of release."
According to the lawsuit, the EDM group first started using the name "ATLiens" in 2012. Besides using the same namesake, OutKast and the EDM group are both from Atlanta, Georgia, record in related genres (hip-hop/ R&B and EDM) and have both promoted their music, live performances using space and/or alien-themed imagery, the lawsuit states.
"The duo comprising Defendant performs with masks on, thereby concealing their identities such that consumers will mistakenly believe that the members of Defendant are one and the same with – or at least somehow connected to – Plaintiff," the lawsuit added.
You can read the full lawsuit below:
