Legendary producer duo The Neptunes are diametrically opposed to each other in a lawsuit

The Neptunes are perhaps the most successful producer duo ever with hits from 1996 to 2022. Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams have known each other since they were children and are not only colleagues but also good friends. However, Hugo and Williams are now diametrically opposed to each other in a lawsuit filed by the former.

Billboard reports that the dispute centers on Pharrell and company’s registration of the trademark The Neptunes, which Hugo claims violates their long-standing agreement to split everything equally. Chad Hugo accuses Pharrell of acting fraudulently and in bad faith, his lawyers said in a statement.

Pharrell has since responded through his own lawyers, stating that there was no malicious intent behind the disputed trademark registrations. “Pharrell is surprised by this. We have reached out on multiple occasions to share in the ownership and administration of the trademark and will continue to make that offer. The goal here was to make sure a third party doesn’t get a hold of the trademark and to guarantee Chad and Pharrell share in ownership and administration.”

However, Hugo’s team doubts this statement and claims that it was preceded by a long-standing conflict. “If Pharrell’s intent was to include Chad in the filing, he should have registered it in the name of them jointly or as a partnership and not in his own name. This was a land grab in a long simmering dispute that has yet to be resolved .”

The dispute centers on three separate applications to register “The Neptunes” as a trademark for various purposes such as streaming, music videos and live performances. Hugo’s lawyers claim that Pharrell filed these applications without the required input from Hugo, resulting in a conflict over ownership rights.

After seeing disputes between Drake & Future and Gunna & Lil Baby lately, we’re hoping this is just a storm in a teacup.