One Direction not changing name, say Harry and Zayn

Image source, Getty Images

  • Author, Jasmine Coleman
  • Role, Newsbeat reporter

One Direction's Harry Styles and Zayn Malik have insisted that the band will not change their name.

It comes despite a US punk group of the same name suing them for trademark infringement.

Lawyers in California want an injunction to stop the UK group using the name, as well as $1m (拢630,000) in damages and a share of their profits.

Speaking about what would happen, Zayn said: "We don't have any idea but we're not changing our name."

Image source, Other

Image caption, US One Direction are suing the UK boy band for trademark infringement

Legal papers filed at California Central District Court claim Syco and Sony Music knew of the clash but ignored the American band's rights.

The UK group's record label said they tried to resolve the issue "amicably" but they now had no choice but to defend their claim to the name.

The five-piece American One Direction have told Newsbeat they won't be intimidated by Simon Cowell and revealed they have received death threats and hate mail over the row.

Harry and Zayn told Australia's Herald Sun newspaper, where they are performing a series of shows, that they were not going to change.

The final decision is likely to be made by the courts.