[SYRFox]

Kraftwerk are threatening to sue kraut-prog outfit Kling Klang (pictured), DrownedinSound has learned.

The Rock Action-signed band, whose name is inspired by the Klingklang studio Kraftwerk own, received a fax from a promoter associated with the legendary outfit before a show supporting Portishead in Cologne last Sunday (6 Apr).

Kraftwerk have apparently registered the trademark ‘Klingklang’ – which translates as ‘ding dong’ in German – and are threatening to sue if Kling Klang don’t change their name.

The band seem to be defiant though – management asserting that: “even though it is fairly true that Kling Klang drew the inspiration for their name from the admiration for Kraftwerk’s immense contribution to modern music, it is also true that the expression ‘kling klang’ is not Kraftwerk’s creation.

“In fact they have registered as a trademark the word ‘klingklang’, without hyphens or separation spaces and that is for certain their ‘invention’.”

The band intend to consult a legal advisor, saying that they are “not too prone to accept Kraftwerk’s request”. They go on to state that the multimillionaire kraut-rock legends should be grateful that a band have chosen to find inspiration in the work they’ve produced.

“It is not like ‘Kling Klang’ is a brand name, like ‘Xerox’,” manager Stefania Paolini continues. “It is an idiomatic German phrase, so we really don’t see the substance of their claim. We were aware of Kraftwerk’s notorious bent in sueing people and we were expecting the notice from one moment to another since we first stepped on German soil.

“And they way they have notified the claim was even funny… We received the letter in the form of a fax from some random promoter and the notice had all our addresses on it, kinda ‘we know where you live’ style.”

Intimidating stuff, though perhaps more understandable when you take into account Kraftwerk refer to their studio as “the mother ship” and they’re so attached to it that they boxed it up and took it out on their 1981 world tour with them.

For now undaunted though, Kling Klang will soon return to the studio to record their new album, the follow-up to Esthetik of Destruction set to arrive through Mogwai’s Rock Action label by the end of the year. Before then, they'll continue to support Portishead next month in France and Belgium.

http://drownedinsound.com/articles/3155412

Wow, I wouldn't have expected that from Kraftwerk, it seems really dull. Especially because Kling Klang are really awesome I think. That sounds uncool.

[batreleaser]

there old and cranky, realizing they truly arent robots and wont live forever, gotta leave money for the families i suppose.

[SYRFox]

That's not as if they were obscure

[PAULYBEE2656]

it is breach of trademark tho isnt it? didnt kraftwerks publishing company was called kilng klang too? easy way to get out of it, just call themselves the kling klangs or kkling klang d.c. or cling klang. they do rock tho!

[Dead-Air]

What's next? Will NEU! sue Negativland??

[PAULYBEE2656]

thinking the same thing myself!
or mogwai sue themselves!

[Florya]

I wish I'd copyrighted the letter e.

[SYRFox]

"The The" could sue a lot of people as well, and so could "The Band" and "The Music". "The Jam", too

[Rob Instigator]

You'll dance to anything by any bunch of stupid Europeans who come over here
with their big hairdos intent on taking our money instead of giving your
cash, where it belongs, to a decent American artist like myself!

[SuperCreep]

...but they'll give Coldplay permission to use Computer Love.

Lame.