Twenty One Pilots Sues ‘Unethical’ Temu for Allegedly Selling Fake Merchandise Thats’ ‘Virtually Identical’ to Theirs

Twenty One Pilots has filed suit against the online marketplace Temu, claiming the site has ripped off their trademarked logo to sell counterfeit merchandise.

The band — comprised of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun — filed a complaint in California on Tuesday, Sept. 9 against Whaleco Inc., which operates as Temu.

“The [trademarked logos] have been damaged and put at risk by Temu’s knowing and systematic marketing and sale of counterfeit versions of the brand’s trademark on products,” alleges the filing, which was obtained by PEOPLE. “These marks are confusingly and/or virtually identical to Plaintiff’s trademarks. Such products devalue TOP’s brand and status in the rock milieu and create a false association between the brand and Temu.”

The filing included multiple examples of alleged knock-off merchandise, including a $35 shirt sold on the Twenty One Pilots website that features their logo and a dragon, and Temu’s near-identical version selling for $8.51. Nearly two dozen pages of screenshots also show other Twenty One Pilots products being sold on Temu that contain trademarked images and names.

Twenty One Pilots claims that Temu was “advised” of the violations, but “failed to meaningfully respond, necessitating this action.”

“Temu respects the intellectual property rights of others and takes all infringement claims seriously,” a Temu spokesperson tells PEOPLE in a statement. “While we uphold this commitment, we will vigorously defend ourselves against unfounded allegations.”

The “Stressed Out” rockers slammed the company in the filing as “one of the most unethical companies operating in today’s global marketplace,” alleging its “business practices are believed to pose great threats to individuals, marketplaces, and the environment.”

The documents cite a complaint filed against Temu by the state of Nebraska that claim the company’s app operates as malware and illegally exfiltrates sensitive user data, sending it to China. The documents also claim that a Select Committee found that Temu has almost certainly violated U.S. law by shipping products made with forced labor.

The band’s lawsuit was filed by attorney Jeff Gluck, who previously filed suit against Temu in August on behalf of the late rapper MF Doom’s estate.

Twenty One Pilots, who will release their eighth studio album Breach on Sept. 12, is seeking unspecified damages.