Robert Clivillés, co-founder of C+C Music Factory, has filed a $30 million lawsuit against former collaborator Freedom Williams and independent label Big Mac Entertainment, accusing them of trademark infringement, fraud and defamation over control of the dance group's name. The dispute centres on who has the right to use the C+C brand, which Williams has performed under solo and legally trademarked since 2005, a situation Clivillés has long contested and is now challenging directly through the courts rather than the trademark tribunal.

Clivillés and David Cole founded C+C Music Factory in 1990, with Williams featuring as a rapper on major hits including "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)," "Here We Go" and "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm." Clivillés claims he became sole owner of the name after Cole's death in 1995 and alleges Williams fraudulently secured the trademark by falsely claiming ownership on registration paperwork, arguing that featured-artist credits never confer ownership rights. The suit, filed pro se on 14 August after an earlier 2016 cancellation bid was dismissed on a technicality, also cites Williams' June release of a new song titled "Into the Future" under the C+C name as escalating the alleged wrongdoing; Williams' attorney has denied the claims have any merit.