What once started as a humble punk-zine in the early 90’s, has grown into a 2.5 billion dollar global juggernaut, known as Vice Media. The successful Canadian company, which affords its CEO Shane Smith to splurge $300,000 on steak dinners (as reported by Business Insider), has reportedly served Los Angeles indie rock band, ViceVersa with a Cease and Desist letter. Vice Media is claiming the band’s trademarked name is causing consumer confusion. The Cease and Desist letter outlines a list of demands including the immediate shut down of the band’s usage of the name “ViceVersa,” the band’s social media pages, website and the sale of band merchandise bearing the name. The letter also demands the band produce documentation of gross revenue spanning their less than 3 year existence.
ViceVersa took to social media by releasing a video statement in response to Vice Media’s actions. The video details excerpts from Vice Media’s Cease and Desist letter and shows the band’s logo alongside Vice’s logo as an example of how different each one is from the other.
The three piece rock band has no ties to any indie or major labels and is completely self funded, self distributed and has never claimed to be affiliated or supported by Vice Media. A name change and complete brand makeover could potentially set the band back thousands of dollars and gravely harm their growing fan base and social media presence.
