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When OK Go hit the scene in 1998, they were immediately lauded for their catchy pop tunes and strong performance style. It wasn’t until 2007 that they reached worldwide notoriety, though, with the video for their song “Here It Goes Again” — a video that now has over 60 million views on YouTube. These credentials would seemingly entitle the band use its own name exclusively, but a lawsuit from Post Cereal may jeopardize this. See why some people are saying that Post Cereal is bullying the band in a bizarre campaign against the indie musicians.
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Post Cereal’s Decision To Introduce OK Go!
The dispute between OK Go and Post Cereal emerged when the latter introduced a new breakfast product. In a perplexing move, the brand decided to name it OK Go!, alluding to the grab-and-go design of the product. Indeed, consumers can partake in the product’s portable bowl of cereal and milk by simply adding water, but it’s unclear why Post chose to appropriate a name that was already in use long before the creation of the cereal.
OK Go’s Response to Post Cereal’s Product Rollout
Unsurprisingly, the band OK Go was caught off guard by Post’s announcement. In addition to the obvious confusion created by the duplicate name, there was an element of betrayal in the announcement. The band had previously worked with Post Cereal on a promotional video for Honey Bunches of Oats. A quick search for related terms now prompts results of both the band’s video and Post’s breakfast product. This confusion prompted the band to respond with a cease-and-desist letter, asking Post to immediately stop using the indie band’s trademarked name.
Hey @postcereals the multi @RecordingAcad award winning band @okgo has the name. You will be losing customers over nonsense like this. Lots and lots of customers. #weareOKGO https://t.co/U2AKSmZvXF
— Jaye (he-ish/him-like)(@jayeofmanyhats) February 2, 2023
The Lawsuit That Pits Big Business Against an Indie Band
Rather than respecting the request laid out in the cease-and-desist letter, Post Cereal launched an offensive campaign against the band. To add insult to injury, Post sued OK Go in federal court, alleging that the breakfast product actually does not share a name with the band. This claim hinges on the addition of a single punctuation mark — an exclamation point — after the title OK Go. The lawsuit further contends that Post should be able to use the name because it refers to a different kind of product than the band’s musical recordings.
Predicting What’s Next for OK Go and Post Cereal
Fans of the band have rallied around the rockers to express their support. Despite a loyal fanbase, though, the band may face exorbitant legal bills and a damaged reputation as a result of Post Cereal’s actions. With the lawsuit currently pending — and neither side showing any signs of backing down — it’s worth wondering what’s next for the band and Post Cereal. Hopefully the litigant can resolve the dispute without devolving further into bullying tactics.
OK Go’s decision to defend itself has prompted a litigious campaign against the band, but hope remains that they may be able to reclaim their name. Read more about the ongoing battle between indie band OK Go and Post Cereal’s corporate lawyers.
