By Blake Brittain
(Reuters) -Rock legend Neil Young and his latest band the Chrome Hearts have been sued for trademark infringement by Los Angeles luxury fashion brand Chrome Hearts.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in federal court in Los Angeles, said the band’s name and merchandise will confuse consumers into believing they are connected with the fashion brand. The complaint sought an unspecified amount of monetary damages and a judicial order blocking Young from using the name Chrome Hearts.
Representatives for Young at his label Warner Records did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Attorneys and spokespeople for Chrome Hearts also did not respond to requests for comment.
The Canadian-born Young, 79, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1995 and as a member of the band Buffalo Springfield in 1997. He was also a member of the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and has toured for decades with backing from the band Crazy Horse.
Young announced a tour with a new backing band called the Chrome Hearts last year. The fashion brand Chrome Hearts told the court that the band’s name has confused vendors into thinking that the band’s merchandise was part of a collaboration.
The brand said it has previously collaborated with musicians including the Rolling Stones and Drake, which it said increased the risk of confusion from Young’s band name. The brand said it sent Young’s representatives a cease-and-desist letter in July, but the band has since continued to tour under the Chrome Hearts name.
Young’s band is scheduled to play in Mountain View, California, on Friday and at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Monday.
(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham)
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