Federal Court Entangled in Logo Dispute Between Tiger Woods’ Apparel Company and Cooling Products Firm
A high-stakes trademark battle has erupted between Sun Day Red, the apparel company founded by golf legend Tiger Woods, and Tigeraire, a company specializing in cooling products for athletes. The dispute, now playing out in federal court, centers on allegations that Sun Day Red’s Tiger logo infringes on Tigeraire’s design.
Tigeraire sparked the controversy by filing a notice of opposition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, accusing Sun Day Red of “unlawfully hijacking” its branding. Woods’ legal team swiftly countered with a lawsuit, accusing Tigeraire of attempting to capitalize on Sun Day Red’s reputation as a larger, more successful brand.
In its court filing, Sun Day Red argues that Tigeraire is seeking an “unwarranted financial windfall” through threats of legal action and exorbitant monetary demands. The company claims to have made good-faith efforts to resolve the infringement claims through negotiation, only to be met with “outrageous” demands from Tigeraire.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, also alleges that Tigeraire has recently begun attending golf tournaments and revamped its website to feature golfers, in an apparent attempt to demonstrate market overlap.
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben characterized the lawsuit as an “aggressive response” to the trademark dispute, noting that taking the case to federal court significantly raises the stakes – and costs – for the smaller company, Tigeraire.
Launched in May, Sun Day Red pays homage to Woods’ tradition of wearing red on Sundays, with a logo that nods to his 15 major championships. The company’s founders are determined to protect their brand identity, even if it means taking on a smaller competitor in court.
Leave a Reply