"it's a legal trademark that I own"
High street fashion giant Topshop have responded after Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace took to her Twitter to call out the unapproved use of their band name and logo on one of the label's leather jackets.
The fashion chain have responded to Grace on Twitter, stating, "We're looking into this. We have removed the jacket from our website and are currently withdrawing from stores."
Grace initially tweeted about the jacket a day ago, writing, "Hey Topshop, you're selling a $700 leather jacket with my bands name on it and you have no permission. Not cool."
Hey @Topshop, you're selling a $700 leather jacket with my bands name on it and you have no permission. Not cool. pic.twitter.com/fxdBF9w6Uy
— Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) September 17, 2016
Responding to a number of fans questioning the legality of the copyright breach, Grace explained, "it's a legal trademark that I own, just like you can't sell shirts that say "the Beatles".
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In reply to people who posited that the phrase "against me" was a matter of free speech, Grace replied, "The problem is when [Against Me!] is printed on a jacket like that for sale. Of course you can say the phrase".
The leather jacket in question also references a number of other punk bands' names including The Vandals and Refused, using 'Vandals' and 'Refuse' respectively.
Against Me! just released their album, Shape Shift With Me, last week.