In a statement provided to Rolling Stone, will.i.am's attorney Ken Hertz says will.i.am. isn't suing Pharrell. Instead it's a "run-of-the-mill trademark procedure in order to "defend trademarks that have been registered and that [will.i.am] has used widely and continuously for many years." And will.i.am also tweeted out a series of messages stating that "i.am not suing @Pharrell & I NEVER WAS."

Pharrell's attorney, Brad Rose, has his own statement which asserts that will.i.am has "obstructed every overture made by Pharrell to amicably resolve this matter and has steadfastly refused to engage in a dialogue."