Justice fans will inevitably notice it when they discover the cover of Justin Bieber's new album, which appears this Friday under the title ... "Justice".
Its logo is very similar to that of the French electro duo with the letter T in the shape of a cross.
Enough for a legal procedure to be launched across the Atlantic.
On March 10, the American attorney for Justice sent the attorney for the American pop star a letter urging him to "cease all use of the mark of Justice in all personal and professional activities, including his album and his networks. social ”.
“Your use of the mark is illegal, writes the lawyer for the French group.
You have not received permission to use it.
Further, Bieber's work is in no way affiliated with, supported by, or sponsored by Justice.
Such use of the mark is not only illegal, but risks deceiving and confusing customers.
The Justice mark takes precedence in the United States and abroad.
"
Pre-order #JUSTICE on iTunes: https://t.co/BemzwD8LGX
- Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) March 9, 2021
The French duo are indeed very popular abroad, especially on the North American continent, where they have toured several times and won two Grammy Awards in 2009 and 2019 out of five nominations.
He sells merchandising there with his logo, created in 2003, and which has been a registered trademark since 2008 in France and 2014 in the European Union.
* Most disturbing is that there was contact almost a year ago between the entourage of Bieber and Justice.
One of the American managers of the French group told Spin magazine that “the Bieber team sent an e-mail in May 2020, asking to be put in contact with the graphic designer of Justice (
Editor's note: Bertrand Lagros, alias So Me
) to discuss a logo.
We tried to hook them up, but it was unsuccessful and the conversation ended there.
"
The cover of the album "Genesis" of Justice, released in 2007./Screenshot Justice
However, the French graphic designer So Me had replied by email to the management of Bieber: “I am available to discuss the design of the logo next week.
He never received a response.
"No one has ever mentioned an album called Justice or a logo that says Justice," continues the American manager of the group.
The first time we saw anything about it, it was the announcement "by Justin Bieber of the release of his record on his social networks.
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The two members of Justice did not make any statements.
The boss of their label Edbanger, Pedro Winter, just posted a humorous wink on Instagram a few days ago: “Ed Banger Records Appoint Mr. Justin Drew Bieber as Artistic Director.
The American artist and his label Island / Def Jam, owned by Universal, have not yet reacted to these accusations.