11 Years Ago, This Rock Double Act Got Into Legal Controversy

On March 4, 2015, Daryl Hall and John Oates—best known under their stage name Hall & Oates—entered a public lawsuit with cereal makers Early Bird Foods & Co over the name of their maple syrup granola bars.

The pop-rock double act dispited the company's use of the name "Haulin' Oats", given its similarity to their copyrighted professional name.

Hall & Oates Went To Court With 'Haulin' Oats'

According to the BBC, the musicians claimed that "Haulin' Oats" broke the law through "phonetic play on Daryl Hall and John Oates' well-known brand name"

The case was filed in Brooklyn federal court, with the singers believing that Early Bird Foods & Co were profiting from a brand established through their own fame.

Hall & Oates were best known for their pop-rock hits throughout the '70s and '80s, including "Rich Girl", "Maneater", "Out of Touch", and "You Make My Dreams". The pair stuck together throughout the majority of their career, though both musicians have also released music under their individual names.

No formal result of the lawsuit was published, though it's most likely the case was either retracted or settled out-of-court.

Interestingly, this wasn't the first time Hall & Oates had found themselves the alleged victims of copyright infringement. The case reports that there were "various" attempts over the year to "make a connection between the artists' names and oats-related products".

Unfortunately, Hall & Oates would return to court just eight years later—this time, facing each other. The pair formally split in 2023, and a long legal battle ensued for control over financial and business assets.

The pair hadn't worked together for over 20 years at that point, but remained a joint legal business. When their personal relationship reached a boiling point, Hall even filed a temporary restraining order against his old partner.