Tiger Woods speaks at the launch of Tiger Woods and TaylorMade Golf's new apparel and footwear brand “Sun Day Red” at Palisades Village on February 12, 2024 in Pacific Palisades, California.
Kevork Djansezian | Kevork DjansezianGetty Images Sports | Getty Images
Tiger Woods is facing a trademark dispute over his new logo for his Sunday Red golf apparel line.
Tag AirA company that makes cooling products for athletes has filed a counter-notice with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, accusing Sunday Red and Tiger Woods of “illegally hijacking” Tigeraire's designs and incorporating them into their own brands.
The applicant’s trademark and registered trademark.
USPTO
“SDR, TaylorMade and Tiger Woods' actions blatantly disregard Tigeraire's long-protected trademark, brand and identity, violate federal and state intellectual property laws, and disregard the confusion their actions will cause consumers. SDR's filing should be dismissed Dismissed,” court documents said.
TaylorMade Golf, the company behind Sun Day Red, told CNBC: “We are confident in the securitization of our trademark.”
Sun Day Red launched in May, following Woods' 27-year relationship with Nike.
The brand pays homage to the fact that Woods always wears red on Sundays, while the logo pays homage to the 15 majors he has won during his career.
Tiger Woods and TaylorMade Golf's new apparel and footwear brand “Sun Day Red” at the Palisades Village in Pacific Palisades, California on February 12, 2024 Details of the hat and club covers shown during the press conference.
Kevork Djansezian | Kevork DjansezianGetty Images Sports | Getty Images
“Sun Day Red continues to penetrate the North American market,” said TaylorMade CEO David Abeles. “Our products are very popular.”
A spokesman for Tiger Woods declined to comment.
Woods and the Sun Day Red team will have 40 days to respond to the notice.
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben told CNBC that the opposition process would halt Woods' trademark application for his new logo. However, this is unlikely to affect future production of the line.
“They may now give themselves an opportunity to negotiate with Tiger and TaylorMade to see if a solution can be reached,” Gerben said.
He hopes the case will be resolved before it gets closer to trial.
“By raising objections, portable fan companies are essentially giving them a seat at the table,” he said. “Because in order for Tiger and TaylorMade to register the trademark there, you have to win the case.”