One Direction Countersues One Direction Over Name

Chart-topping boy band One Direction have filed a countersuit against another band named One Direction, who originally sued the successful U.K. group over the use of the name. The lesser-known One Direction had claimed that the breakout X Factor stars stole their name, but now the "What Makes You Beautiful" singers have fired back with their own lawsuit, alleging that they actually had their name swiped by the California group.

"There is a dispute with a local group in Northern California about the ownership of the One Direction name in the U.S. Despite One Direction’s management's attempts to resolve the situation amicably, the Californian group are continuing with their lawsuit claiming that they own the name in the U.S.," reads a statement issued by the group's representative. "One Direction's lawyers have now had to file an Answer and Counterclaim in order to defend and assert the band’s right to use their name. The Answer and Counterclaim makes it clear that it is One Direction who have prior rights to the name in the U.S. as it was One Direction who used the name in interstate commerce in the US first."

One Direction have already announced plans for a U.S. summer tour in 2013. Earlier this year, the group became the first U.K. band to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with their first U.S. album, Up All Night.