The Velvet Underground take legal action to protect ‘Banana Album’ artwork

The Velvet Underground have filed a lawsuit against the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts citing trademark infringement, after it emerged that the latter was seeking to put the banana artwork (from The Velvet Underground and Nico) onto a series of cases, sleeves and bags planned for Apple Inc's iPhone and iPad.

The band have claimed that the "Peel slowly and see" banana design by Andy Warhol is synonymous with their work.

The lawsuit reads: "The symbol has become so identified with the Velvet Underground … that members of the public, particularly those who listen to rock music, immediately recognise the banana design as the symbol of the Velvet Underground."

Andy Warhol managed The Velvet Underground at the time, and had a producers credit on the classic debut album.