December 18, 2009 13:59

Owen Pallett drops Final Fantasy name over computer game copyright

Last Shadow Puppets, Arcade Fire collaborator to use his own name from now on

Owen Pallett has announced he will no longer record as Final Fantasy following copyright issues with a computer games manufacturer.

The string arranger, who has worked with Arcade Fire and The Last Shadow Puppets, said he was retiring the name and from now on would perform and record under his real name.

The Square Enix video games firm release the Final Fantasy game series and own the rights to the name.

"The laws of trademark infringement exist for good reason," Pallett said, "and so I am voluntarily retiring my band name. In the new year my record 'Heartland' is coming out [on January 18], 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 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 repackaged and reissued."