FKA Twigs Wins First Stage in Trademark Dispute

A US District Court has ruled in favor of singer Tahliah Barnett, known professionally as FKA Twigs, in the initial phase of a long-running trademark dispute with the American indie band The Twigs.

US District Judge Jed S. Rakoff dismissed the band's infringement claims, finding them barred by the doctrine of laches due to unreasonable delay. The sisters Laura and Linda Good, who perform as The Twigs, had owned a trademark since 1996 and first sued Barnett in 2014 before voluntarily dismissing the action. They resurfaced with objections in 2024 after Barnett sought to register her stage name.

The ruling prevents the band from pursuing those specific infringement claims but leaves other aspects of the broader trademark dispute unresolved for further court proceedings.

The case highlights issues of timing and delay in trademark enforcement actions involving celebrity stage names.