The clash between Tiger Woods’ clothing line, Sun Day Red, and the cooling company Tigeraire has intensified with a new twist in the legal saga.
Originally, Tigeraire accused Sun Day Red of copying its logo for use on apparel and other merchandise. They filed a complaint with the US Patent and Trademark Office in September, claiming their design was “unlawfully hijacked.”
Both logos feature simple tiger motifs. Woods mentioned that his logo’s 15 stripes honor each of his Major wins. In an interview on The Today Show with Carson Daly, he joked about wanting to change it by winning a 16th title someday .
Legal Battle Heats Up:
Court documents revealed by CNBC’s Jessica Golden show Tigeraire believes Sun Day Red, supported by TaylorMade, infringed on their trademark. The filing stated: “The actions of SDR, TaylorMade and Tiger Woods blatantly ignore Tigeraire’s long-standing protected mark.” Fans might think this is just another case of big brands clashing over designs.
Woods’ team had started trademarking their emblem but paused due to the lawsuit. TaylorMade Golf expressed confidence in their trademarks despite having 40 days to respond to Tigeraire’s notice.
In late September, Woods’ lawyers not only moved to dismiss Tigeraire’s lawsuit but also reluctantly counter-sued them. Sun Day Red argued that this was a classic case of a smaller business trying to profit from a successful brand through legal threats and demands for money.
Sun Day Red claimed they spent months trying to convince Tigeraire there was no reason for legal action. They sought court help to defend their brand from what they called “interference” and “outrageous demands” by Tigeraire.
Woods’ company also provided nearly four pages of evidence within a lengthy document detailing how Tigeraire altered its business strategy—attending golf events and adding apparel—to create an illusion of competition where none existed before.
What do you think about these kinds of disputes between companies?
