[Jords]

ONE Direction are being sued by a US boyband claiming they owned the name first, according to reports.

The American group — who are also a five-piece — is demanding a court order to force Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson to change the name of their band.

In legal papers, the Americans claim they formed in 2009 — before the X-Factor boys had even met.

They also say they were first in filing a trademark application at the US Patent and Trademark Office.

And they are demanding three times the profits made by the Brits, as well as damages of more than £600,000.

A blog by the US band said they liked the Brit act but added: “To protect our rights, we reluctantly have filed a lawsuit.”

In an online message to their fans, they explained: “Despite our best efforts, we were unable to negotiate a reasonable compromise with the handlers for the band.”

The group said their rivals had known about their claim to the name since the spring of 2011.

The US lads said: “They chose not to use a different name. They chose to press ahead, using the exact same name, One Direction, setting up the current difficulties and confusion in the United States.”

The blog added: “The British boy band is well funded and high profile. They have Mr Cowell’s enormous resources behind them. We on the other hand do not.

“In our view, we were here first. We have rights. We have talent, and we have heart. We are standing up for all of the above. Not having money does not take away your rights or make you ’less than’.”

They wished the UK act well and added: “We wonder if they even know what their handlers are up to.”

The legal action was revealed as Harry and the boys enjoyed Stateside success — landing a No1 with their debut album Up All Night.

Meanwhile the Californian One Direction — led by singer and pianist Sean O'Leary — have made little impact, with their biggest gigs being at local fairs and bars.

Fans from all over the world have taken to Twitter to support the British and an online petition has been launched.

One fan tweeted: "It's not our fault that US One Direction faded away. Leave our UK boys alone."

It is not the first time one of Simon Cowell’s X Factor bands has run into trouble over a name.

Last year’s show winners Little Mix had to change their name from Rhythmix, which was also the name of a Brighton-based charity.

The American One Direction have recorded two albums but on their iTunes page one customer wrote: "NOT X FACTOR 1D!!

"I thought this was the british 1D from xfactor 2010 dang it."

Below that another post, under the heading, 'THIS IS SOOOO AWESOME!!!' sings the US band's praises.

It says: "I originally thought this was the UK One Direction, but then i got to listen, and i realized this wasnt. these guys are really great as well! i would definatly buy this album! these guys deserve it!"

A song -

Youtube video

[Ramsay]

hahahhahh

[InOne]

Hopefully this will be the end of them

[MTVN]

One Direction fans are all disliking that video, one of the top comments:

THUMPS UP IF YOU ARE BETWEEN AGES 14-20 AND THINKS THESE GUYS ARE A DISGRACE TO MUSIC , THEY ARE SUEING THE WORLDS MOST NEWEST POPULAR POP VOCAL GROUP UK 1D , YOU KNOW WHAT , LETS CALL U.S. ONE DIRECTION, : JACKASS DIRECTION , **** DIRECTION , YOU GUYS ARE LOSERS Direction

[Shaun]

It's difficult, because their video was uploaded June 2011... but then I don't think UK OD had released anything by then.

[Jords]

They could easily just become OneDirection tbh

[Jords]

Originally Posted by MTVN

One Direction fans are all disliking that video, one of the top comments:

THUMPS UP IF YOU ARE BETWEEN AGES 14-20 AND THINKS THESE GUYS ARE A DISGRACE TO MUSIC , THEY ARE SUEING THE WORLDS MOST NEWEST POPULAR POP VOCAL GROUP UK 1D , YOU KNOW WHAT , LETS CALL U.S. ONE DIRECTION, : JACKASS DIRECTION , **** DIRECTION , YOU GUYS ARE LOSERS Direction

Some absolute tools in this world

Originally Posted by Shaun

It's difficult, because their video was uploaded June 2011... but then I don't think UK OD had released anything by then.

That was just an example, they have 2 albums out.

[Patrick]

Isn't this like days old? I'm surprised it's not been posted before.

But yes their little fans are going furious, It makes me happy. I'm behind American 100% here.

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Jords

They could easily just become OneDirection tbh

Or call themselves what I have been calling them for 2 Years, One Erection.. or if you're Deremot O'Leary, Wand Erection!

[Ramsay]

one direction themselves ( the UK one) arent really that bad when i think about it..its just their fans that makes me have a burning hatred for them

[Ramsay]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Or call themselves what I have been calling them for 2 Years, One Erection..

Youtube video

[GypsyGoth]

They should fight each other for the name.

[Ramsay]

Originally Posted by GypsyGoth

They should fight each other for the name.

fight to the death

[GypsyGoth]

[Mystic Mock]

Im with the American One Direction on this, if they had the name first then they should keep it, also One Direction being called Five Biebers has always amused me.

[Niall]

Originally Posted by Karl

Youtube video

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Karl

one direction themselves ( the UK one) arent really that bad when i think about it..its just their fans that makes me have a burning hatred for them

Yeah, well no Niall is a ******ing little prick who's a cocky, over excited, little child and I found myself wanting to tear his balls off everytime he was on XF.
Louie or whatever you call him, and Zayne - two dullards, no personality.

But Liam and Harry seem like top lads, like you could imagine going to a party or something and seeing them there and just having abit of craic with them.

Harry being the one after the pussy, like the kind of guy that would touch for your girl - but you tell him to back off, and he's cool with it and you both become mates the rest of the night, and Liam being that kind of laid back, quiet lad that shares his beer. Yes, they seem sound enough actually. Just Niall and the others need to piss off.

[Marc]

American OneDirection>UK prats

[King Gizzard]

One direction is a horrible name anyway

[Shaun]

I listened to one of their songs earlier and I can safely vouch that UK OD > US OD.

[Marc]

But what does that even mean Shaun, will the world be better off with UK1D or would both need to go for peace and harmony on earth

[Jords]

Just kill the fans

[Shaun]

jords has the right idea

[Jack_]

Not sure what I think about this...surely seeing as UK One Direction are a band from Britain going over to America, it's slightly different than if they were both American bands? If that makes sense...surely it'd be a bit unfair for them to have to change their name just because they've tried to make it in the US (the UK band that is)?

[Smithy]

i almost had a fuck to give but then it went away