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\n\tNeil Young<\/a> and his latest backing band, the Chrome Hearts, are facing a trademark<\/a> infringement lawsuit<\/a> brought by the prominent luxury brand, Chrome Hearts.<\/p>\n \n\tChrome Hearts, the brand, has been active since the late Eighties and is known for its high-end clothing, jewelry, and accessories. As for Young\u2019s Chrome Hearts, the group launched late last year<\/a>, released an album, Talkin to the Trees<\/a><\/em>, in June, and have toured North America<\/a> extensively this summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tIn their new lawsuit, Chrome Hearts alleges that they never \u201cgranted a license\u201d or gave Young \u201cany form of permission to use intellectual property belonging to Chrome Hearts.\u201d The complaint continues: Defendants have copied Chrome Hearts\u2019 federally registered trademarks in an effort to exploit Chrome Hearts\u2019 reputation in the market.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAlong with Young, the lawsuit names his Chrome Hearts bandmates \u2014 Micah Nelson, Corey McCormick, Anthony Logerfo, and Spooner Oldham \u2014 as defendants, as well as Young\u2019s production company, The Other Shoe Productions. A rep for Young and the Chrome Hearts did not immediately return a request for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tIn not only using the name Chrome Hearts, but by making and selling merchandise emblazoned with the name \u201cNeil Young and the Chrome Hearts,\u201d the brand said Young and his bandmates would \u201clikely cause confusion\u201d in the marketplace. Notably, Young\u2019s merch doesn\u2019t present the band\u2019s name in a design that\u2019s similar to any of Chrome Hearts\u2019 trademarked logos, but the brand noted that third-party apparel vendors have \u201capparently already mistakenly assumed there is a connection between NYTCH and Chrome Hearts, and are actively promoting that purported connection.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe lawsuit includes screen grabs of shirts being sold online that pair photos of Young with Chrome Hearts-style logos. It also notes that these items are being marketed in ways that connect Young\u2019s band and the luxury brand.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tFor example, one bit of online copy cited in the suit reads: \u201cBecause it\u2019s Neil Young, right? The voice of a generation, the guy who makes you feel stuff, man. And Chrome Hearts? That\u2019s serious style. It\u2019s that edgy, that rebellious, luxury. But then, you think about the two together and it just hits you, and the clash of aesthetics really makes sense.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n