Chrome Hearts Sues Neil Young Over Band Name Use

Neil Young and members of his backing band known as the Chrome Hearts have been sued by Los Angeles luxury brand Chrome Hearts LLC, which filed a trademark infringement complaint in federal court on Sept. 11 alleging the musician and his group have unlawfully used the company's name on music releases, tour promotions and merchandise. The suit seeks an injunction to stop the use of the name and unspecified damages, saying the band’s use of the moniker is likely to cause consumer confusion.

Chrome Hearts, which says it has used the CHROME HEARTS mark on apparel, jewelry and accessories since the late 1980s, asks the court to halt use of the name on Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts album Talkin to the Trees, released in June, and on merchandise sold during the band’s Love Earth World Tour. The complaint names Young, his bandmates Micah Nelson, Corey McCormick, Anthony Logerfo and Spooner Oldham, and Young’s production company The Other Shoe Productions as defendants.

“Defendants’ continued use of the confusingly similar ‘Neil Young The Chrome Hearts’ name in commerce violates Chrome Hearts’ valuable intellectual property rights,” the complaint states. It adds, “The likelihood of...