In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pharrell Williams opened up about his relationship with Chad Hugo, his long-term collaborator in The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., against the backdrop of an ongoing legal conflict. The discussion highlighted an active trademark lawsuit that Hugo has filed against Williams concerning the use of The Neptunes name. Hugo claims that Williams attempted to gain control over the trademark unilaterally, which he alleges violates their original arrangement to share rights equally.
Pharrell responded to the allegations in a straightforward manner, expressing that while he wishes Hugo 'the absolute best,' they are currently not communicating. The lawsuit was reportedly triggered after Pharrell filed for three trademarks under The Neptunes name through his company, PW IP Holdings LLC, which includes areas such as streaming music, music videos, and live performances.
Sources close to Pharrell indicated surprise at Hugo's legal actions, noting an expectation of continued collaboration between the two. Despite their current estrangement, Pharrell acknowledged that Hugo contributed his voice to the upcoming LEGO biopic, "Piece By Piece," which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
As this legal situation evolves, the future of Pharrell and Chad Hugo's partnership, which has a rich history of production success, remains in the balance. For more details on the case and Pharrell's insights, visit The Hollywood Reporter.