Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are identified for being the songwriting duo The Neptunes.
Apr. 1 2024, Revealed 7:45 p.m. ET
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo — identified for being the songwriting duo The Neptunes — are locked in a nasty authorized dispute over the group’s identify, with the latter accusing Williams of “fraudulently” in search of sole management over the logos, RadarOnline.com has discovered.
The childhood associates are behind early 2000 hits like Nelly’s Scorching in Herre, Snoop Dogg’s Drop It Like It’s Scorching, Justin Timberlake’s Rock Your Physique, and Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Woman.
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The childhood associates are behind a number of early 2000s hits, like Nelly’s “Scorching in Heree.’
Hugo’s lawyer, Kenneth D. Freundlich, accused Pharrell and his firm of trying to register logos for The Neptunes’ identify, which he claimed violated the powerhouse pair’s longtime settlement of splitting the whole lot 50/50.
“All through their over thirty yr historical past, [Hugo] and Williams agreed to, and actually, have divided all belongings,” the submitting learn. “By ignoring and excluding [Hugo] from the any and all purposes filed by applicant for the mark ‘The Neptunes,’ applicant has dedicated fraud in securing the logos and acted in dangerous religion.”
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Williams’ rep slammed the allegations, telling Billboard the star wasn’t attempting to backstab his buddy.
“Pharrell is shocked by this. Now we have reached out on a number of events to share within the possession and administration of the trademark and can proceed to make that provide. The purpose right here was to verify a 3rd social gathering doesn’t come up with the trademark and to ensure Chad and Pharrell share in possession and administration,” his spokesperson mentioned on Monday.
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Williams filed for a number of purposes over The Neptunes, however Hugo took situation with three particularly.
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Hugo took situation with three of Williams’ purposes to register The Neptunes as a trademark filed in 2022, which lined utilizing the identify on streaming music, music movies and different content material, and dwell performances.
Williams’ firm, PW IP Holdings LLC, additionally owns a number of of the star’s registrations for his manufacturers, like his band N.E.R.D. and his Miami Goodtime Resort.
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Hugo’s lawyer shot again on the Blissful singer’s denial about having no in poor health intent along with his filings.
“If Pharell’s [sic] intent was to incorporate Chad within the submitting, he ought to have registered it within the identify of their collectively owned firm Neptunes, LLC and never in his personal identify,” he mentioned. “This was a land seize in an extended simmering dispute that has but to be resolved,” Freundlich informed the outlet.
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Hugo’s lawyer accused Williams of “knowingly and deliberately” submitting the trademark purposes with out his consumer’s enter.
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Hugo’s lawyer accused Williams of “knowingly and deliberately” submitting the trademark purposes with out his consumer’s enter — a transfer he mentioned is required. He claimed Williams was “totally conscious” that Hugo or their partnership entity ought to be listed as co-owner.
“Nothing, both written or oral, offered Williams or [PW IP Holdings] with the unilateral authority to register the logos,” he charged.
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Freundlich alleged that he is “repeatedly” reached out to Williams’ crew over the filings, claiming his legal professionals “admitted that [Hugo] is equal co-owner of the logos” whereas allegedly promising to incorporate him; nevertheless, he mentioned that by no means occurred.
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Hugo’s lawyer claimed that Williams’ firm offered “onerous enterprise phrases” that will have allegedly disadvantaged his consumer of management and compensation.
Williams and Hugo shaped The Neptunes in 1992. They have been inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame three a long time later in 2022.