Anita White, the Seattle artist who goes by Lady A, has filed a countersuit for trademark infringement against the band formerly known as Lady Antebellum, according to a report from Variety.
Lady Antebellum changed their name to Lady A back in June to remove any association with slavery as the country reckoned with the aftermath of the George Floyd protests.
The band posted on social media, “We did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery.”
The band then filed a lawsuit against White in an effort to get a judge to rule it can keep the name.
The two parties attempted to come to an agreement, but talks broke down.
White has been performing under the name Lady A since for decades.
“I’m not giving up, I will not be erased. I’ve been using this name since 1987, it’s tattooed on my arm, it’s my brand, it’s who I am,” White told KIRO 7.
Variety reports that White has now filed her own suit in Seattle, claiming a common law right to the trademark based of decades of performing under that name.
The suit claims that the Nashville band’s use of the name will result in “brand confusion,” Variety says.
“Black people, indigenous people, people of color, have always had things taken from us. I don’t intend to have my name taken from me,” White said to KIRO 7 back in July.
Cox Media Group
