Artist Sues Former Firm Over Unauthorized Trademark Use
The lawsuit highlights the risks of residual brand usage after management contract terminations.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Marketing
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Techno artist Sara Landry has filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against The Night Department in Manhattan. The action follows the 2025 termination of her management agreement with the firm.
Why it matters
The dispute underscores the critical importance of clearly defined intellectual property rights and post-termination protocols in talent management agreements. It highlights how failing to formalize these boundaries can lead to costly international litigation and ongoing brand dilution.
The dispute centers on a claim of 50% ownership of music and label assets. The artist, now represented by ASK Management and Advisory, initiated this filing following a prior breach of contract lawsuit brought by The Night Department in 2026.
The players
Sara Landry
A techno artist who has publicly litigated the termination of her professional management agreements.
The Night Department
A management firm involved in international legal disputes regarding artist contract termination and asset claims.
ASK Management and Advisory
The current management firm representing Sara Landry.
The details
The lawsuit alleges that The Night Department continued to utilize trademarks to create a false impression of authorization after its contract with Landry was terminated. The artist claims the firm improperly retained control over music rights and label activities, leading to operational disputes. Landry currently manages her professional affairs through ASK Management and Advisory while facing ongoing legal action from her former firm.
Timeline
Sara Landry signed a management deal with TND in 2023.
The artist terminated her contract with TND in August 2025.
The Night Department filed a lawsuit against Landry in July 2026.
Landry filed a new trademark lawsuit against TND on October 6, 2026.
Market Landscape
This lawsuit follows a pattern set by industry disputes over post-termination rights, which often arise when management agreements fail to explicitly clarify the sunset period for brand usage. It marks a sharp escalation in the struggle over the ownership of creative output versus services.
Business owners should review all management and service contracts to ensure specific language governs the immediate cessation of trademark use upon termination. Ensure that intellectual property control is explicitly separated from service-based compensation models to avoid similar claims.
The takeaway
The case highlights that failing to define post-termination rights can leave intellectual property vulnerable to unauthorized use long after a contract ends. Operators should audit current agreements to confirm that all trademark and licensing authority expires definitively upon the dissolution of a partnership.
Further reading
For broader insights on brand control, visit Marketing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Billboard.
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