The Coachella Music festival filed a trademark infringement suit against Live Nation Entertainment over a competitive event produced by the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians named “Coachella Day One 22.”
Like the 20-year-old Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Twenty-Nine Palms’ Day One 22 event is advertised as an outdoor live music gathering that features performances and entertainment. According to the Los Angeles federal court lawsuit, the location is also close to the original Coachella festival.
Plaintiffs said the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians operated as Coachella Crossroads, “intentionally traded goodwill” at the Coachella event, raising the possibility of “consumer confusion “misassociation” with the actual event.
Plaintiffs have been nominated as defendants in the proceedings because Mission Indains’ 29 Palms Band and Coachella Crossroads (collectively referred to as 29 Palms) claim to be eligible for sovereign immunity through lawyers. It will be the subject of the lawsuit. Attorneys at the Coachella Valley Festival say 29 Palms may be added as a defendant at a later date.
“29 Palms has made great efforts to imitate the trademark associated with Plaintiff’s Coachella,” the proceedings allege.
The Coachella festival was not held directly in person in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the virtual Coachella event took place instead. The multi-day event is scheduled to return on April 15-17 and April 22-24.
The plaintiffs, including Coachella Valley event producer Goldenvoice, say they have no objection to Twenty-Nine Palms holding a festival of their own or hosting events at their venue. Still, it must adopt and use an event name, venue name, and trademark that avoids the possibility of consumer confusion.
“Despite repeated requests from plaintiffs, Twenty-Nine Palms has refused to adopt its distinctive venue or event name and marks,” according to the lawsuit.
Coachella Crosswords, an outdoor entertainment complex adjacent to Coachella’s Spotlight Casino, prompts Day 22, the first New Year’s Eve event. It was unclear if the event would be held in the spring.
The Coachella Valley Festival is one of the most acclaimed contemporary music festivals globally and is held annually at the Empire Polo Club in the Desert. More than 800 acres of festival venues, including on-site camps, parking, and support activities. According to plaintiffs, the event is often sold out, with an estimated 750,000 participants in the event for several days.
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