One Direction are preparing to sue Simon Cowell. Well, the United States version of One Direction that is. The US group are seeking more than $1 million in damages and a share of the UK boyband's future profits due to alleged trademark infringement.
Representatives for Simon Cowell have said that they are trying to reach an "amicable decision" for the matter but singer Sean O'Leary is refusing to back down. O'Leary said: "He is obviously a very smart man but we are not intimidated. The law isn't a popularity contest. Our name has been infringed."
The Californian One Direction have been together since 2009 and first heard of the UK band last year on The X-Factor. "That name means much more to us. It's everything", said the group.
The US One Direction have filed court papers with the California Central District Court claiming "substantial confusion and substantial damage" against the UK group, who recently sold out their debut US tour.
Sean O'Leary has spoken of the masses of hate mail and death threats he has received from fans of the UK boyband. "Ninety-nine per cent of it is from British fans, which has been awful and upsetting", he said. "We just want to keep what is rightfully ours".
Is it just us, or are fans of One Direction a little too prone to sending death threats? This isn't the first time we've come across instances like this. The One Direction army is obviously growing by the day.
With that in mind, it's time for a little experiment...
One Direction are AWFUL and they're all hideously ugly. JLS are clearly much better in all regards.
Bring it on, One Direction fans.
*sits and waits*
There is further coverage of this in our Gossip section.