Legal Dispute Arises Over Ownership of “The Neptunes” Trademark

In a surprising turn of events, Pharrell Williams and his longtime collaborator Chad Hugo, known as the Neptunes, are currently embroiled in a legal dispute over the group’s name. The duo, who have been responsible for producing hits for artists like Snoop Dogg, Kelis, and Gwen Stefani, are now at odds over the ownership of the Neptunes’ trademarks.

According to reports, Hugo’s attorneys have accused Williams of fraudulently seeking sole control over the Neptunes’ trademarks, in violation of their agreement to split everything equally. The duo, who have been friends and collaborators since childhood, were even inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022.

Hugo’s attorney, Kenneth D. Freundlich, stated that Williams had ignored and excluded Hugo from the trademark applications, committing fraud in securing the trademarks and acting in bad faith. However, a representative for Pharrell has stated that they have reached out multiple times to share ownership and administration of the trademark with Hugo.

At the heart of the dispute are three applications to register the name “The Neptunes” as a trademark for streaming music, music videos, and live performances. Hugo’s attorneys claim that Williams had filed these applications without Hugo’s input, despite their agreement to split everything equally.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this legal battle will play out between the two longtime collaborators. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.