Twenty One Pilots have filed a lawsuit against the Chinese online marketplace Temu, accusing the company of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and misappropriation of likeness.
In the complaint, Twenty One Pilots accuse Temu of manufacturing and selling a “myriad of items that are counterfeit or blatant copies” of their merchandise and other intellectual property. The lawsuit alleges this creates an “implied relationship” between Twenty One Pilots and Temu, which constitutes “unfair competition” that devalues the band’s brand.
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As evidence, the complaint includes dozens of pages of photos comparing official merch to the alleged counterfeit products sold on Temu. One example features an official $35 Twenty One Pilots t-shirt alongside a strikingly similar replica sold on Temu for $7.54.
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The claims are framed within a broader pattern of Temu’s alleged unethical practices. “Temu is widely understood to be one of the most unethical companies operating in today’s global marketplace,” the band’s lawyers wrote. “Its business practices are believed to pose great threats to individuals, marketplaces, and the environment.”
These same lawyers brought forth a similar case against Temu on behalf of MF DOOM’s estate in August. Both complaints also cite other legal actions against the company, including claims from the State of Nebraska that the app “operates as malware” and from the Arkansas Attorney General that it is a “data-theft business” run by “a cadre of former Chinese Communist Party officials.”
Moreover, the suit points to Temu’s alleged practice of selling offensive products, including items that are “endorsing homophobia, inciting violence, and violent criminal gang activity.”
Twenty One Pilots are asking the court for a permanent injunction to stop Temu and its affiliates from manufacturing or selling any infringing products, as well as a recall of the items. They are also seeking damages, noting that willful infringement allows for statutory damages of up to $2,000,000 per counterfeit mark per type of good sold.
The lawsuit comes ahead of Twenty One Pilots’ new album, Breach, which releases this Friday, September 12th, and a supporting North American tour (get tickets here) kicking off next week.
