Long Island distillery sues LIV Golf, alleging trademark infringement
New York-based distillery, Long Island Spirits, has filed a lawsuit against LIV Golf, alleging that the league depressed sales and confused customers, by selling LIV-branded products that infringed on the spirit maker’s trademark.
Filed to the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the craft vodka producer claims that the Saudi-backed golf league is infringing on its signature LiV brand by selling its own branded alcohol and apparel. The LIV acronym originally stood for Long Island Vodka.
As well as its signature vodka, made from local potatoes, the distillery produces liquors, cocktails, whisky, RTDs and gin. It also sells its own branded t-shirts, hats and other clothing.
In a complaint filed on Monday, the Baiting Hollow-based distillery, which was launched in 2007 in a horse barn, accused LIV Golf of “blatant trademark infringement”.
Partner Content
‘Customer confusion’
As evidence, they pointed to partnerships with companies like Treasury Wine Estates and DAOU Vineyards, and the promotion of drinks like LIV Clubhouse Cooler, LIV Transfusion Cocktail and LIV It Up Bloody Mary in advertisements and at tournaments.
The complaint states: “Distributors, retailers, hospitality partners, and consumers have already experienced actual confusion about whether the LíV brand has affiliated with LIV Golf.
“Consumers’ mistaken belief that LIV is in league with a highly controversial and heavily commercialized venture backed by an immense foreign sovereign wealth fund is antithetical to the authentic, pioneering, craft spirit LíV brand that LIV has worked hard to build.”
The drinks business has reached out to LIV Golf for comment.
Related news
Trump in trademark war with California winery
Portuguese liqueur producer defeats Louis Vuitton in trademark case
