FKA twigs, the Grammy-winning artist born Tahliah Barnett, is locked in a legal battle over her stage name. Barnett has filed a lawsuit against the ’90s alt-pop duo also known as the Twigs, alleging they are attempting to leverage a decades-old trademark to disrupt her career and demand a substantial payout. The dispute, which has been simmering for years, centers on the rights to the name “Twigs” and its potential for confusion in the music industry. This legal challenge comes as Barnett continues to build momentum following the release of her critically acclaimed album, EUSEXUA Afterglow.
The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, details a history of conflict dating back to 2013, when Barnett began performing under the name the Twigs. According to the complaint, Barnett proactively reached out to Laura and Linda Excellent, the twin sisters who comprise the original Twigs, offering $15,000 for a “co-existence” agreement that would allow both acts to operate without legal interference. The Good sisters reportedly declined the offer, asserting their claim to the name. This initial disagreement led to a 2014 lawsuit filed by the Twigs against Barnett, prompting her to officially adopt the moniker FKA twigs – a change the original band apparently deemed insufficient to avoid trademark conflicts.
A Decade of Disputes and a Seven-Figure Demand
For years, the matter appeared to lie dormant. However, Barnett’s lawsuit alleges that in May 2024, the Twigs resurfaced, issuing cease-and-desist letters that threatened legal action to prevent her from using the FKA twigs name. The complaint claims the duo is attempting to “weaponize” their previously unsuccessful trademark claims, seeking to disrupt Barnett’s established career and potentially extract a “significant seven-figure payout” to release any alleged claims. The legal filing argues that these actions are motivated by financial gain rather than a genuine concern about trademark infringement.
Barnett is now seeking a jury trial to definitively establish her right to use and register the FKA twigs trademark. She argues that the circumstances have dramatically changed since the initial dispute. The lawsuit emphasizes the vast disparity in current commercial success between the two acts. As of the filing, FKA twigs boasts 3.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify and over 300 million views on YouTube, although the Twigs have a comparatively small online presence with 67 subscribers and 19,332 views on YouTube, 705 Instagram followers and 25 monthly Spotify listeners. This difference, Barnett contends, demonstrates that any potential for consumer confusion is negligible.
From Grammy Stage to Courtroom
The timing of this legal action is particularly notable, coming on the heels of Barnett’s recent Grammy win for Best Dance/Electronic Album for EUSEXUA. During her acceptance speech, as reported by Pitchfork, she spoke to the importance of artistic perseverance, stating, “I know to a lot of people I may be new, but I’ve actually been doing this a really long time…To any artist: Don’t give up, follow your vision, do you, because that’s what’s going to make the world fall in love with your art.” This sentiment underscores the personal stake Barnett has in protecting her artistic identity and the name she has painstakingly built over the past decade.
The lawsuit also highlights the relative inactivity of the original Twigs. Barnett’s legal team argues that the duo has “simply disappeared” after their initial correspondence, suggesting a lack of ongoing commercial activity that would justify continued enforcement of the trademark. This point is central to Barnett’s argument that the Twigs are attempting to capitalize on her success without contributing to the music landscape.
A Look at the Timeline
Here’s a brief timeline of the key events in this trademark dispute:
- 1994: The Twigs (Laura and Linda Good) form their band.
- 2013: Tahliah Barnett begins performing as the Twigs.
- 2014: The Twigs sue Barnett over trademark infringement, leading her to adopt the name FKA twigs.
- May 2024: The Twigs issue cease-and-desist letters to Barnett, demanding a seven-figure payout.
- June 2024: Barnett files a lawsuit seeking a jury trial to establish her right to use the FKA twigs trademark.
The case raises broader questions about trademark law and the challenges faced by artists navigating intellectual property rights in a rapidly evolving music industry. The outcome could set a precedent for similar disputes involving established and emerging artists with overlapping names or branding.
Representatives for both FKA twigs and the Twigs have been contacted for comment, but have not yet responded. The lawsuit is currently pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. A hearing date has not yet been set. The next step in the legal process will likely involve a scheduling conference to determine the timeline for discovery and pre-trial motions.
This is a developing story. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
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