The Neptunes Fight Legal Battle Over Trademark

After 30 years working together as a duo, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo have entered a legal battle against each other over trademarking the “Neptunes” brand.

Sources say, Hugo and his team have made a filing with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, accusing his longtime friend and co-producer of committing fraud by attempting to register trademarks for the Neptunes name without his name on it.

There are currently 3 separate applications over the name that Hugo is disputing: one for streaming music, the second for music videos and other content, and a third covering live performances. According to the legal paperwork, Pharrell filed for ownership in 2022 under his PW IP Holdings LLC.

Chad Hugo’s team is proposing that the three aforementioned trademarks be amended to make him 50% co-owner or to name the General Partnership as owner in place of Pharrell.