Outkast, a hip-hop group, has filed a federal lawsuit for trademark infringement against ATLiens, an electronic dance music duo.
ATLiens is accused in the case of "improper, willful, unauthorized, and illegal use and registration of the ATLIENS mark," which is owned by Outkast, according to Rolling Stone. 
Outkast's lawyers state in the court document that the dance group registered for the trademark in 2020, claiming to have been using the term since 2012. Their second album, "ATLiens," was published in 1996. According to the complaint, Outkast is unable to get registrations for their original ATLIENS mark because of the competing trademark.
Attorneys for Outkast claim that ATLiens selected the name "in order to capitalize on the immense notoriety and goodwill linked to Plaintiff's ATLIENS album, song, and mark, or, at the very least, to remind consumers of Plaintiff's well-known ATLIENS album, song, and mark."
The case is "a basic brand protection issue," according to a statement from Outkast's attorneys, Abigal J. Remorse and Peter E. Nussbaum.
"Outkast had to file a lawsuit in order to protect the valuable name and trademark ATLIENS that it created and has been using continuously for nearly 30 years after attempts to resolve this matter amicably were regrettably unsuccessful," the attorneys added.
As Andre 3000 prepares to embark on his autumn tour in support of his instrumental album "New Blue Sun," he files the lawsuit.
The tour schedule is shown below:
- September 19 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
- September 21 – Dallas, TX – AT&T PAC – Winspear Opera House
- September 22 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater
- September 25 – Houston, TX – The Hobby Center For The Performing Arts
- September 27 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium
- September 28 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center
- October 1 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys By The Bay
- October 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
- October 4 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre
- October 5 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
- October 9 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater
- October 11 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
- October 14 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
- October 16 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater
- October 17 – Denver, CO – Ellie Caulkins Opera House
- October 19 – Minneapolis, MN – Northrop
- October 21 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
- October 22 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre
- October 25 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
- October 30 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre
- November 1 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
- November 2 – Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre
- November 8 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater
- November 9 – Washington, DC – The Kennedy Center
- November 12 – Durham, NC – DPAC
- November 14 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre