Red Hot Chili Peppers sue the makers of new TV series Californication

Rock group The Red Hot Chilli Peppers are suing the makers of the new TV series Californication alleging they stole the name from the title of their album.

The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court claims that U.S. network 'Showtime' stepped over the mark by using the name of their 1999 album and single for the series, which stars X-files actor David Duchovny.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis said in a statement: "Californication is the signature CD, video and song of the band's career, and for some TV show to come along and steal our identity is not right."

The band is alleging unfair competition, dilution of the value of the name and unjust enrichment.

The documents state: "Californication is inherently distinctive, widely recognised and immediately associated in the mind of the consumer and those in the trade with the Chili Peppers."

Added the bands attorney Justin Ehrlich: "The Red Hot Chili Peppers would never have allowed their iconic album and song title to be used as the title of a television program, much less this one.

"They are particularly offended that Showtime used its material without permission."

The suit seeks unspecified damages against Showtime as well as an injunction preventing them from continuing to use 'Californication' as the title of the television show

The TV series Californication stars Duchovny as Hank Moody, a writer who moves to L.A. after selling the film rights to a book and, unable to write to eases his pain with a string of tawdry one-night stands as he tried in vain to rekindle a failed relationship with his daughter's mum.

The show's creator, Tom Kapinos, has said previously that the term 'Californication' pre-dates the Chilli Peppers album. Kapinos has said that he first heard the word in reference to Oregon - the U.S. state above California.

He said: ""Apparently in the '70s there were bumper stickers that said 'Don't Californicate Oregon,' because Californians were coming up there and I just through it was a great, great title for this show."