Simon Cowell's British boyband One Direction sued for $1m by California group with the same name

British boyband One Direction is being sued by an American group which claims they owned the name first.

The U.S. One Direction has filed a law suit, asking for a court order to force Simon Cowell's X Factor UK-formed group to change its name, according to TMZ.

In the documents, the American band says it formed in 2009 - a year before Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson had even met.

Lawsuit: The U.S. One Direction

The U.S. group also say it beat their British counterparts to the U.S.  Patent and Trademark Office, filing a trademark application before them.

They are also suing Cowell's record label and Sony Music for $1m in damages in the federal lawsuit filed on Monday in California Central District Court.

Cowell formed the group on the UK X Factor in 2010. The boys had initially entered the competition as solo contenders.

The five-piece act have recently enjoyed American success, clocking up a No.1 with their debut album Up All Night.

The five-man California band, by contrast, has a much lower profile.
Led by singer and pianist Sean O'Leary, its members began making music at school and the group has played at local fairs and bars, according to their website.

A spokeswoman for Cowell's One Direction declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.

Trouble Down Under: The British band are current in Australia, bandmember Niall seen here spitting out Vegemite after trying it on breakfast show TV Sunrise today in Sydney, watched on by Liam

Fan mania: A huge crowd of supporters stood behind barriers outside the TV studios today

Meanwhile, around a dozen Australian fans required first aid after passing out as the band were interviewed in Sydney's central business district on Wednesday morning local time, Fox News reports.

Supporters had packed the streets around Channel Seven studios to see the boys interviewed.

But some of the fans fainted after becoming overwhelmed.
First aiders were forced to pull besotted teenagers out of the rowdy crowd and over the security barrier.

Going wild: Around a dozen fans needed first aid treatment after passing out