Coachella Organizers Ask Judge To Stop Vendors

The producers of the Coachella Music Festival are expected to ask a federal judge tomorrow to put a stop to the sale of unauthorized T-shirts and hats at this weekend’s event in Indio.

According to papers for trademark infringement filed in Los Angeles federal court, “John Does” — whose identities are unknown at this point — are hawking counterfeit T-shirts, jerseys, caps and other merchandise bearing the trademarks of the Coachella festival and 2012 headliners Radiohead, the Black Keys, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

The illicit sale of inferior merchandise is taking place in the area around the festival grounds at the Empire Polo Club and `is likely to injure the reputation of the festival and its artists,” according to the complaint.

The festival takes place over two weekends this year, with about 75,000 music fans expected for the second installment starting Friday.

Coachella attorneys are expected tomorrow morning to ask U.S. District Judge Audrey B. Collins to issue a preliminary injunction and seizure order on fake merchandise sellers in time for the opening notes of the festival.

If Collins agrees, the order would authorize “the state police, local police or local deputy sheriffs, off-duty officers of same, and any person acting under their supervision” to “seize and impound any and all infringing merchandise.”