Following that announcement by ex-Libertine Carl Barat that his new band was to be named Dirty Pretty Things, it turns out there's already a band performing under the same name. Gigwise report that the group, who have been using the name since January, are determined to keep their name, claiming they have already established a copyright for its use. Legal negotiations will probably ensue. Vertigo, Barat's label, apparently say they have notified Barat and his manager.
And the moral of the story is, check http://www.bandregister.com before choosing your band name...