Outkast Sues Rapper ‘Ovrkast’ for Trademark Infringement As NIL Protections Get Serious

Photo Credit: Andre 3000 and Big Boi (Outkast) by David Shankbone / CC by 3.0

As NIL protections become a critical focus for IP, hip-hop duo Outkast sue rapper Ovrkast for allegedly using a “nearly identical” name on purpose.

Hip-hop duo Outkast has filed a lawsuit against rapper and producer Ovrkast for trademark infringement, alleging his “nearly identical” name was chosen maliciously in an attempt to link himself to the “Hey Ya” rappers. High Schoolers LLC, the holding company managing Outkast’s name and trademark, filed their complaint in Georgia on September 16.

The lawsuit also claims that the duo had settled with Ovrkast previously, but the artist breached their prior confidential settlement agreement in which he promised to change his stage name to the approved alternative, “Overkxst.”

“Defendant’s unauthorized use of the nearly identical Ovkast mark has already damaged and will continue to damage plaintiff,” the pair’s lawyers write, claiming they sent a cease-and-desist over a year ago demanding the previously agreed-upon name change take place.

Outkast’s lawyers are further citing Ovrkast’s own words from an earlier Rolling Stone interview in which he admitted that fans frequently misread his name as “Outkast”—demonstrating that “actual confusion” has already taken place.

“The worst thing I get is like, ‘The n***a think he Outkast.’ They read ‘Ovrkast’ [as] ‘Outkast.’ They’re like, ‘Oh my God, I thought they said Outkast.’ And it’s like, it don’t,” said Ovrkast, whose real name is Silas Wilson.

The artist also commented on the lawsuit in a post on Instagram, writing, “I thought it was love?” and tagging Andre 3000 and Big Boi in the caption.

Outkast previously sued an electronic music duo calling themselves ATLiens—the same name as one of Outkast’s biggest hits. That case was settled earlier this year without publicly disclosed terms.

Other recent trademark battles over name, image, and likeness (NIL) protections include Dua Lipa suing Samsung over her image being used on a TV box and the long-running legal battle between FKA twigs and folk duo The Twigs. There’s also a lawsuit against AI music company Suno by Jason Isbell, which focuses on co-opting NIL rights without permission or compensation.