The Coachella Valley Music Frestival and its organizer, Goldenvoice, are suing Ghana’s Afrochella for alleged trademark infringement. In the lawsuit, filed in a California federal court on Wednesday, October 5 and obtained by Pitchfork, Coachella and Goldenvoice claim that Afrochella is allegedly using the Coachella festival trademark to promote their music events in the United States and in Ghana which they claim confuses festival goers. The lawsuit also claims that organizers of the event were allegedly trying to register the trademark as their own.
Afrochella 2022 is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29 at El Wak Stadium in Accra, Ghana. Artists on the bill include headliners Burna Boy and Stonebwoy, as well as Ayra Starr, Fireboy DML, Black Sherif and more.
Coachella Music Festival, LLC and Goldenvoice, LLC filed a similar lawsuit last year against Live Nation Entertainment for alleged contributory trademark infringement. The complaint was regarding an event organized and promoted by the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians called Coachella Day One 22. Coachella and Goldenvoice sued Live Nation Entertainment for selling tickets to the event, which allegedly infringed upon Coachella’s trademarks. The lawsuit was settled by both parties earlier this year. (Pitchfork)