Ahren Stringer & Joel Birch Locked In The Amity Affliction Trademark Dispute

Ahren Stringer, the former bassist and singer in The Amity Affliction, has filed three Class 9 and three Class 41 trademarks for the band’s name with Trademark Planet Limited.

According to publicly available records on the IP Australia website, Stringer made the filings on 2 September 2024. The trademarks Stringer filed for are under three names: AMITY, AMITY AFFLICTION, and THE AMITY AFFLICTION.

Under the Class 9 filings, Stringer seeks to trademark the band’s video and audio recordings featuring music. Under Class 41, he seeks to trademark the goods and services of the production of music recordings, music publishing, and entertainment, in addition to entertainment services, music publishing, concerts, live performances, and production.

The latter has been formally opposed by lead vocalist Joel Birch, utilising Media Arts Lawyers.

On Friday, 7 February, Birch filed a formal Notice of intention to oppose. On Tuesday, 11 February, the Intention to Oppose Filed Notice arrived. And on Friday, 21 February, Birch submitted his Statement of Grounds and Particulars.

The Class 9 and 41 filings—excluding the one opposed by Birch—are currently under examination and due to receive final acceptance decisions by 11 January 2026.

Blunt Magazine originally reported that Stringer and Birch had entered a trademark dispute and explained the band’s complex ownership structure.

Publicly available business records state that Birch owns 25% of the company known as The Amity Affliction, Stringer owns 25%, and the pair jointly own the remaining 50%.

Two weeks ago, The Amity Affliction officially parted ways with Stringer after a tumultuous 12-month period, with the band citing “certain behaviours” and a complete relationship breakdown.

Last May, the band stated that Stringer would depart their US tour to receive support for his mental health and wellbeing, adding that he needed help dealing with addiction. Stringer claimed he’d been “booted” from the tour a day later.

Last July, Stringer confirmed that he’d return to perform with the band for their headline slot at Big Pineapple Festival in October and their massive Let The Ocean Take Me tenth-anniversary Australian tour in November.

At the end of the Australian tour, Stringer said he’d be taking “some much-needed annual leave from the band throughout 2025.”

In January, Stringer revealed that he wouldn’t be touring with the band “for the foreseeable future.”