Outkast sue EDM duo ATLiens in apparent “brand protection issue” over trademark
Outkast are reportedly suing an EDM duo named ATLiens in an apparent “brand protection issue” concerning their name, attorneys representing their trademark holding company state.
Per AllNewHipHop, High Schoolers LLC, the trademark holding company of André 3000 and Big Boi, have filed a lawsuit against ATLiens Touring, Inc. claiming the hip-hop duo first coined the term “ATLiens” and had already got it trademarked in 1996.
According to court documents via AllNewHipHop, the EDM duo registered the ATLiens name in 2020 as a service mark with the US patent office, claiming that they had been using the name since 2012. The company that owns the EDM duo’s mark is ATLiens Touring, Inc., while Outkast’s company, the official plaintiff in the suit, is High Schoolers, LLC.
“The defendant has and continues to sell tickets to concerts and give live performances in this state and District, with its next show being at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia on February 15, 2025,” the documents read.
“Defendant also advertises, offers for sale and sells products to consumers in this state and in this District though its interactive website, including merchandise bearing the ATLIENS mark.”
On behalf of High Schoolers LLC and André 3000, attorneys Abigail J. Remore and Peter E. Nussbaum told Pitchfork: “This is a basic brand protection issue. Efforts to resolve this matter amicably were unfortunately unsuccessful and Outkast therefore had to file suit in order to protect the valuable name and trademark ATLIENS that it created and has continuously used for nearly 30 years.”
“The word ATLIENS was invented by Outkast,” court documents read. “Before Outkast created it, it was not used in the cultural lexicon and did not exist.”
“In addition to the studio album ATLiens and the song ‘ATLiens,’ Plaintiff has used the ATLIENS mark as the title of a number of other distinct musical recordings.”
In the documents, the attorneys also argue that the competing trademark “is preventing Plaintiff [High Schoolers LLC] from being able to obtain registrations for its senior ATLIENS mark.” NME has reached out to ATLiens for a statement.
Outkast have been inactive from performing and recording together since 2014 – a year which saw the duo reunite for a series of live shows.
However, in recent times, André 3000 has been touring to support his 2023 album ‘New Blue Sun’, which saw the rapper turn to the flute for an all-instrumental outing. He appeared as a solo artist at this year’s edition of All Points East, performing on Saturday night (August 17). Fan reactions to his set, however, were mixed.
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Daniel Peters
NME
