Harry Styles has filed a lawsuit against online sellers in an effort to prevent the sale of unauthorized merch. Reportedly, lawyers representing the “As It Was” singer filed the suit in a Chicago federal court earlier this week.
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The suit states: “Plaintiff is forced to file this action to combat defendants’ counterfeiting of its registered trademarks, as well as to protect unknowing consumers from purchasing counterfeit products over the Internet.”
According to the report, the fake merch had been listed on legitimate online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon. The suit went on to say that the items make it “difficult for consumers to distinguish such stores from an authorized retailer.”
It continues, “Tactics used by defendants to conceal their identities and the full scope of their operation make it virtually impossible for plaintiff to learn defendants’ true identities and the exact interworking of their counterfeit network.”
Styles’ lawyers have requested a fully-fledged takedown of all unauthorized items. The suit also includes specific URLs to fake merch retailers, many of which are based in China and “other foreign jurisdictions with lax trademark enforcement system.”
Per Billboard, blanket takedowns of authorized and fake merchandise have been used by artists like Nirvana and the estate of the late rapper XXXTentacion and larger corporations like Nike and Tommy Hilfiger.
In other Styles news, the pop singer is set to circle back to Los Angeles’ Kia Forum this month to play previously rescheduled dates alongside Wet Leg. Styles postponed the shows due to getting the flu last year. Wet Leg announced the news on Twitter, sharing that they will be joining Styles Jan. 26-29 at the Forum. The band will also support Styles on his European and U.K. leg of his Love on Tour.
Styles started Love on Tour back in 2021 but it was ultimately put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sprawling world tour will finally come to a close on July 22 in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Find ticket information for the remaining dates, HERE.
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