A trademark challenge has been raised by Tiger Woods’ new logo for his Sun Day Red golf gear brand.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has received a notice of opposition from Tigeraire, a firm that manufactures cooling equipment for sportsmen. Tigeraire claims that Sun Day Red and Tiger Woods have “unlawfully hijacked” Tigeraire’s design for their own branding.
“By flagrantly ignoring Tigeraire’s long-standing protected mark, brand, and identity, SDR, TaylorMade, and Tiger Woods violate both federal and state intellectual property laws and cause confusion among consumers. The application from SDR ought to be rejected, the court document stated.
The business that created Sun Day Red, TaylorMade Golf, stated to CNBC, “We have full confidence in the securitization of our trademarks.”
In May, Sun Day Red was introduced, capping Woods’ 27-year association with Nike.
According to Woods’ prior statement, the design honors the 15 majors he has won in his career and the brand pays respect to the fact that he always wears red on Sundays.
According to TaylorMade CEO David Abeles, “Sun Day Red continues to penetrate the North American marketplace.” “The response to our products has been incredibly positive.”
Woods’s representative declined to comment on the situation. Woods and Sun Day Red team will be given forty days to respond to the notification.
Trademark lawyer Josh Gerben told CNBC that Woods’s application for a new trademark will be terminated due to the opposition case. However, he noted, it is unlikely to have an impact on the line’s future productivity.
According to Gerben, “they now probably give themselves a chance to talk to TaylorMade and Tiger to see if a resolution can be had.” Before the lawsuit approaches a trial, he anticipates a settlement.
“The portable fan company essentially gets a seat at the table to negotiate by filing this opposition,” he added. “Because you’re going to need to win this case in order for Tiger and TaylorMade to get this trademark registered there.”
