Coachella sues Ghana’s Afrochella for trademark infringement
Coachella and its organisers Goldenvoice have filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in opposition to Ghana-based pageant Afrochella.
In keeping with the swimsuit, which was filed in a California federal court docket on October 5, Goldenvoice declare that Afrochella (through Pitchfork) is “deliberately buying and selling on the goodwill of well-known Coachella and Chella festivals and logos by actively selling music occasions in the US and in Ghana utilizing the confusingly related mark Afrochella”
The swimsuit continued: “Not merely content material to mimic and try to commerce on the goodwill of Coachella, Defendants even went as far as to use in Ghana to register Coachella as their very own logos.”
“Regardless of repeated requests from Plaintiffs, Defendants have refused to undertake their very own distinctive occasion title, and in consequence, cases of precise confusion have already appeared on social media.”
The lawsuit “seeks injunctive reduction and damages for Defendants willful infringement in the US and to guard the general public right here from confusion”
Again in 2017, former Afrochella boss Edward “Deezy” Elohim took to Twitter to name the pageant a “Coachella themed occasion”.
Coachella first warned Afrochella in 2016. Within the 30 web page lawsuit filed in opposition to the pageant organizers in Ghana, they add a screenshot of one of many organizers @deezydothis describing Afrochella as a “Coachella themed occasion” pic.twitter.com/EyAZCBiJK8
— Ebenezer Donkoh (NY DJ) (@nydjlive) October 7, 2022
Afrochella 2022 is scheduled to happen on December 28 and 29 at El Wak Stadium in Accra, Ghana. The 2022 occasion is about to be headlined by Burna Boy and Stonebwoy, whereas the likes of Ayra Starr, Fireboy DML, Black Sherif and extra are scheduled to play.
In keeping with their website, Afrochella “is a celebration of Africa’s numerous tradition and the colourful work of African creatives and entrepreneurs.”
“The pageant is designed to raise and spotlight the thrilling and thriving millennial expertise in Africa by introducing an interactive occasion that teaches, explains and explores numerous cultures by way of a pioneering method. Afrochellans will expertise artwork and artistic activations from the continent, have a good time African music, and style premium and cultured delicacies.”
Coachella is about to return in 2023, with its now-traditional two weekends set to happen between April 14-16 and April 21-23.
Though the line-up for Coachella 2023 has but to formally be introduced, Frank Ocean is outwardly set to headline the 2 weekends. Coachella founder Paul Tollett said in an interview last year that the star, who was initially booked to prime the invoice in 2020, will take one of many prime spots subsequent 12 months.