Beyoncé sues Texas company over clothing with 'Feyoncé' label

Beyonce is suing a Texas company to stop it from selling clothing and other items bearing the word “Feyoncé”, which she says is too close to her own trademarked name. In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, Beyoncé accused Feyoncé Inc and three individuals, all from San Antonio, of “brazenly” selling infringing “Feyoncé” merchandise on their website.

The site sells shirts, sweatshirts and coffee mugs bearing the word. The singer said the Feyoncé knockoffs confuse consumers and cause her irreparable harm, and that the defendants have ignored her requests to stop. The singer previously threatened legal action against Etsy over a line of coffee mugs also bearing the word “Feyoncé”.

The suit noted one coffee mug in particular that read “Feyoncé: He put a ring on it”, which the singer said was meant to remind consumers of her song Single Ladies.

“Defendants adopted the Feyoncé mark to call to mind Beyoncé and her famous song,” the lawsuit said. “Defendants’ conduct described herein is intentional, fraudulent, malicious, willful and wanton.”

Beyoncé’s lawsuit also seeks unspecified damages. It is unclear whether the defendants have lawyers. One defendant, Andre Maurice, speaking by phone, declined to comment, saying he had yet to review the lawsuit. Beyoncé’s law firm, Pryor Cashman, declined further comment.