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The gloves are out and Pharrell Williams and Will.i.Am are ready for the fight.

As we reported earlier, Will.I.Am sent a cease and desist letter and filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Williams over the use of the “I AM” trademark. In the suit, the Black Eyed Peas frontman claimed he owns the rights to the phrase and warned the Neptunes star to change the name of his production company, ‘I am OTHER.’

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In response, Pharrell recently filed a countersuit, arguing that they use “I Am” in completely different ways.

The suit states, “In contrast, the I Am Other mark means ‘I am something else,’ leaving what that ‘else’ is to the imagination of the consumer. It certainly does not mean ‘I am Will.'”

Next, he used a Dr. Suess’ quote from his famous children’s book Green Eggs and Ham to hammer home the point.

“Sam I am

I am Sam

I am Sam

Sam I am”

The lawsuit also states that Will.I.Am ‘s trademark is “relatively weak” because it only covers clothing and similar trademarks already exist.

According to Rolling Stone:

After the story of their trademark beef broke, will.i.am’s lawyer Ken Hertz said that while the two parties attempted to resolve the dispute, official Trademark Office deadlines demanded will.i.am submit an objection: “This is how the process works,” Hertz said. “We own a trademark. They have applied for a trademark. We think their proposed trademark is too close to our registered and common law trademarks. They disagree. We hope to work out a sensible compromise that will allow both parties to move forward without unnecessary acrimony.”

The war of the words continued when Pharrell’s attorney Brad Rose issued a response calling Hertz and will.i.am’s statements “revisionist history” and claiming that the Black Eyed Peas leader and his lawyers “obstructed every overture made by Pharrell to amicably resolve this matter and has steadfastly refused to engage in a dialogue.”

A judge has yet to rule in the matter.

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