FKA Twigs wins trademark trial against The Twigs
The Battle for the Beat: How FKA Twigs Won the Trademark War
In the high-stakes arena of music and intellectual property, the drama between the acclaimed artist FKA Twigs and the indie group The Twigs has reached a definitive legal conclusion. What began as a decade-long dispute over trademarks has culminated in a significant victory for the singer, settling a complex fight over fame, ownership, and the value of creative identity.
The legal skirmish between the two entities dates back over ten years, tracing roots to the year 1996. The initial conflict ignited when The Twigs sued FKA Twigs for alleged trademark infringement, asserting ownership over the name they had used for years. This first round saw the group request an injunction, but the request was ultimately denied.
The tensions flared up again in 2024 when The Twigs issued a cease-and-desist letter, demanding that FKA Twigs refrain from using the name after she applied for her own trademark. This escalation led to a counter-lawsuit from FKA Twigs, who argued that the band was attempting to “weaponize” baseless claims purely for financial gain.
FKA Twigs then sought to establish her legal standing, filing a lawsuit against the band, which asked a judge to rule that her stage name did not infringe upon the name used by The Twigs. The core of the dispute centered on two very different commercial realities: the massive global reach of FKA Twigs, with millions of listeners and views, versus the comparatively smaller presence of the indie group.
The counterclaim from The Twigs alleged that FKA Twigs was leveraging her fame and wealth to attempt to destroy their established trademark. This back-and-forth highlighted the chasm between established commercial ecosystems, where one party commands global attention, and the other remains on a different trajectory.
Ultimately, the court delivered a decisive ruling in favor of FKA Twigs in the first stage of the trademark infringement trial. The U.S. District Judge found that the claims raised by The Twigs were too outdated, citing the legal doctrine of laches, which prohibits the unreasonable delay of legal action.
The judge noted that the band members were aware of the alleged infringing activity as early as 2013 and 2014, yet they failed to bring the current claims until 2024 and 2026. This delay meant that the band’s legal action was significantly postponed, allowing the matter to fall dormant for a decade.
This ruling effectively shields FKA Twigs from liability regarding the band’s trademark claims. While the initial legal battle is resolved, the underlying accusations regarding pressure and the use of fame remain points of contention that have yet to be fully adjudicated.
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