Well, here's one we didn't see coming: beloved violin-sporting orch popper Owen Pallett has announced he's dropping his long-time stage name Final Fantasy. According to a message, the Canadian said he will no longer record as Final Fantasy due to copyright issues, saying, "the laws of trademark infringement exist for good reason, and so I am voluntarily retiring my band name."
Of course, Pallett took the name from the long-running and wildly prolific RPG videogame series Final Fantasy, which is developed by Japan's Square Enix and released its first Final Fantasy game in 1987. He says that his upcoming record Heartland will be his first record to come out in Japan, so to avoid any future legal conflict, from now on it's simply Owen Pallett.
As previously reported, Heartland will be self-released in Canada on For Great Justice Records and out worldwide on Domino. There will also be aFinal Fantasy Owen Pallett tour kicking of in North America in the new year.
Here is Pallett's message about the name change in full:
Friends,
I began playing solo violin shows in 2004. Although it was essentially a solo project, I named the band Final Fantasy, as the experience - and the tone of the material - was reminiscent of the hours and hours I had spent as an adolescent playing those epic JRPGs.
But the laws of trademark infringement exist for good reason, and so I am voluntarily retiring my band name. In the new year, my record Heartland is coming out, and it is my first to be released in many territories, including Japan. With this in mind, I feel it is in my own best interests to definitively distinguish my music from Square/Enix's games.
So, I am no longer playing shows as Final Fantasy. Subsequent releases, including Heartland, will be issued under my own name, Owen Pallett. Prior releases will sometime soon be re-packaged and re-issued.
I thank Square/Enix their kindness and support, and I thank you all for your understanding.
Salud!
Owen
Of course, Pallett took the name from the long-running and wildly prolific RPG videogame series Final Fantasy, which is developed by Japan's Square Enix and released its first Final Fantasy game in 1987. He says that his upcoming record Heartland will be his first record to come out in Japan, so to avoid any future legal conflict, from now on it's simply Owen Pallett.
As previously reported, Heartland will be self-released in Canada on For Great Justice Records and out worldwide on Domino. There will also be a
Here is Pallett's message about the name change in full:
Friends,
I began playing solo violin shows in 2004. Although it was essentially a solo project, I named the band Final Fantasy, as the experience - and the tone of the material - was reminiscent of the hours and hours I had spent as an adolescent playing those epic JRPGs.
But the laws of trademark infringement exist for good reason, and so I am voluntarily retiring my band name. In the new year, my record Heartland is coming out, and it is my first to be released in many territories, including Japan. With this in mind, I feel it is in my own best interests to definitively distinguish my music from Square/Enix's games.
So, I am no longer playing shows as Final Fantasy. Subsequent releases, including Heartland, will be issued under my own name, Owen Pallett. Prior releases will sometime soon be re-packaged and re-issued.
I thank Square/Enix their kindness and support, and I thank you all for your understanding.
Salud!
Owen
