Utah‑based Rebel Creamery, known for its keto‑friendly ice cream sold at Walmart, Kroger, Safeway and Target, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy listing assets and debts estimated between $10 million and $50 million, days after a court found it infringed Van Leeuwen’s trade dress and ordered a packaging redesign and injunction. Van Leeuwen was awarded about $23.8 million of Rebel’s profits; Rebel had appealed the ruling two days before filing for bankruptcy.
Rebel Creamery LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah following a significant trademark infringement ruling against it. The Midway, Utah-based company, which sells ice cream at major retailers including Walmart, Target, and Kroger, listed assets and liabilities between $10 million and $50 million in its August 14 petition. The bankruptcy filing follows a July 16 court order by Judge Eric Komitee in the Eastern District of New York, which awarded competitor Van Leeuwen $23.8 million in disgorged profits. The court found that Rebel Creamery intentionally copied Van Leeuwen’s packaging design, including its monochromatic pints, pastel color palette, and minimalist aesthetic, leading to marketplace confusion. Rebel Creamery has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals, but the automatic stay from the bankruptcy filing currently halts litigation. The broader ice cream industry saw 5.8% growth through 2025, reaching $7.4 billion, highlighting the competitive landscape in which this legal dispute occurred.
Levon Helm Studios filed a federal lawsuit accusing Amy Helm of self-dealing and trademark infringement, claiming she charged the studio $400,000 for personal expenses and diverted about $200,000 from the Levon Helm Estate, including royalties from final albums, thereby causing at least $2 million in damages. The suit also alleges she created a competing Helm Family Midnight Ramble trademark to siphon revenue, following a broader family dispute that led to her removal as LHS president earlier in the year.
Beavercreek’s Beaver’s Mini Mart owner Vic Boparai responded to Buc-ee’s trademark infringement lawsuit by denying that he sought a Buc-ee’s-style trademark or a "Beavermart" trademark; he notes the Beaver’s Mini Mart sign predates Buc-ee’s presence in the area and says the trade name was registered for banking reasons. He thanked the community for overwhelming support as the small business faces the federal lawsuit.
Buc-ee’s has filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio, alleging its cartoon beaver logo and red branding could confuse customers into thinking the stores are affiliated; Beaver’s Mini Mart says it existed before Buc-ee’s Ohio location and is challenging the claims while Buc-ee’s seeks to halt use of the name/logo, remove materials, recover damages and profits, and obtain a jury trial.
A court ruled Molly Tea copied Louis Vuitton's four-petal flower logo and ordered 10.3 million yuan in damages, a ban on using the logo, and a public apology; the decision sparked online debate about copyright protection, with some defending the design as inspired by Chinese artefacts, and reports noted that only the Chinese-character 'Molly Tea' mark was registered while other applications were rejected.
The New York Knicks sent a cease-and-desist letter to Aber Kawas’ campaign after promotional materials used the Knicks logo with the team name replaced by “Kawas,” accusing the campaign of trademark infringement, false advertising, false association, and unfair competition. Kawas is the Democrat nominee for New York Senate District 12 and has been backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani; the Knicks say they’re not endorsing any candidate and demanded removal of all materials using Knicks intellectual property and to stop further use. The dispute echoes a prior similar issue involving Mamdani’s campaigns and underscores tensions between the campaign and the sports organization over IP rights.
The New York Knicks’ legal team sent a cease-and-desist to Aber Kawas, a Mamdani-backed NY state Senate candidate, demanding removal of campaign materials that used a doctored Knicks logo, accusing the campaign of trademark infringement, false advertising, and false association with the team. Kawas’ campaign had circulated stickers and social posts mimicking Knicks branding; Knicks MSG says they are not endorsing Kawas and declined further comment.
Dua Lipa filed a federal lawsuit against Samsung accusing the company of copyright and trademark infringement and misappropriating her likeness by using her image on TV box packaging, claiming it boosted Samsung’s sales; Samsung declined to comment; Lipa seeks at least $15 million in damages and a permanent injunction to stop further use, with boxes already distributed in the US including at Walmart.
Dua Lipa has filed a federal lawsuit in the Central District of California accusing Samsung of using a photo of her on cardboard TV packaging without permission. The complaint cites copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and violation of her right of publicity, seeking at least $15 million in damages; Samsung has said nothing publicly due to ongoing litigation.
Texas-based Buc-ee’s filed a federal trademark lawsuit in Atlanta accusing Teddy’s Market of using a confusingly similar beaver-like mascot and branding that could mislead customers, seeking to block Teddy’s from registering its mark and to recover damages as Buc-ee’s expands in Georgia; Teddy’s contends consumers can distinguish between the brands.
A Las Vegas performer, Maren Wade, has filed a federal trademark lawsuit in California alleging Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl branding is confusingly similar to Wade’s established Confessions of a Showgirl trademark. Wade seeks a permanent injunction against using the mark on goods and services, disgorgement of profits, and a jury trial, naming Swift’s affiliated entities; Swift’s team reportedly continued use after the USPTO flagged potential confusion and declined the mark, with no immediate comment from involved parties.
Taylor Swift and UMG Recordings are being sued by Maren Wade, who claims the album title The Life of a Showgirl infringes her trademark and could confuse consumers with her Showgirl brand; Wade, a columnist and former America’s Got Talent contestant, seeks damages and an injunction, noting that Swift’s registration attempts were previously denied for similarity to Wade’s phrase. Swift could buy out Wade’s claim or contest the case in court, and she already holds numerous trademark registrations.
Las Vegas performer Maren Wade, who trademarked the brand name Confessions of a Showgirl after a Las Vegas Weekly column and a touring show, has filed a trademark infringement suit against Taylor Swift, arguing that Swift’s album title The Life of a Showgirl and related merchandise overlap with Wade’s brand and target the same fan base. Wade seeks damages and an injunction to stop using the title for goods and services in the future; TMZ has cited the court filings in reporting on the case.
J.M. Smucker Co. has filed a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s, alleging that their new frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches infringe on its Uncrustables trademarks in design and packaging, seeking damages and destruction of infringing products.
