Artists Are Fighting Back Against Counterfeit Merch

Springsteen Pushes for On‑the‑Ground Enforcement

Bruce Springsteen is taking proactive legal steps to protect his brand and merchandise revenue ahead of his upcoming Newark show, asking a New Jersey court to authorize local police and U.S. Marshals to seize counterfeit shirts and unlicensed merch being sold around the venue. His merch partner, Merch Traffic, argues that unauthorized vendors routinely appear outside major concerts, selling low‑quality knock‑offs that confuse fans and undermine the value of official merchandise. Springsteen joins a growing list of artists—including Dua Lipa and Benson Boone—who have recently sought similar injunctions to protect their trademarks and prevent consumer deception. The move reflects a broader trend: artists are increasingly forced to police both physical and digital marketplaces to safeguard their intellectual property.

Twenty One Pilots Strengthen Their Case Against Temu for Online Counterfeits

Meanwhile, Twenty One Pilots is advancing a major trademark case against Temu after a federal judge rejected the platform’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit . The band strengthened its complaint by arguing that Temu is not a passive marketplace but a direct seller with operational control over counterfeit listings, making it responsible for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and misappropriation of likeness. With potential statutory damages reaching $2 million per counterfeit mark, the case could set an important precedent for how courts treat large e‑commerce platforms that blur the line between marketplace and retailer. The MF DOOM estate and other artists are watching closely, as the ruling may open the door for more aggressive enforcement strategies against online counterfeiters.

How Yosick Law Protects Creators

Together, these cases highlight a critical reality for today’s creators: counterfeit merchandise—whether sold outside a venue or through massive online platforms—poses a direct threat to artists’ income, brand integrity, and fan trust. For musicians navigating these challenges, legal protection is no longer optional. It is critical to register trademarks for your band name and logos, and potentially register copyrights for key artwork. At Yosick Law, we help artists protect their IP and build proactive strategies to protect their trademarks and likenesses across both physical and digital marketplaces. As counterfeit operations grow more sophisticated, creators deserve counsel that is accessible, artist‑first, and deeply experienced in the realities of the modern music economy.