Pink Floyd's David Gilmour sues website over fake merch

A company representing Pink Floyd musician David Gilmour is suing a website that deals in band merchandise, claiming trademark infringement.

Otherbrick.com – named after what is arguably Pink Floyd's most well-known hit Another Brick in the Wall – offers a huge range of Pink Floyd-related products, including clothing, shoes, accessories, and homeware.

David Gilmour Music Ltd (DGML) has brought its lawsuit in an Illinois district court, claiming that Otherbrick.com is selling illegal counterfeits of products bearing the singer-songwriter and guitarist's name and likeness at prices substantially below those of original, genuine merchandise.

The complaint claims that the unidentified owner of the site is "using a fake online storefront designed to appear to be selling genuine plaintiff products, while selling inferior imitations of plaintiff’s products."

It adds that DGML has been "irreparably damaged through consumer confusion, dilution, loss of control over its reputation and goodwill as well as the quality of goods bearing the David Gilmour trademark."

It also alleges that the defendant has intentionally concealed the identity of the individual or individuals behind Otherbrick.com, for example, by including an address on its website in Youngstown, Ohio, that turned out to be student accommodation belonging to University Edge Youngstown.

The suit is claiming trademark infringement, counterfeiting and false designation of origin, and is seeking a permanent injunction on the use of Gilmour's trademarks, removal of the site from search engine results, financial damages to the tune of $2m per infringement, and recovery of attorney's fees and costs associated with the case.