US Olympic Committee Sues Logan Paul’s Prime Hydration Over Trademark Infringement
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has filed a lawsuit against Prime Hydration, a sports drink company founded by popular YouTube personalities Logan Paul and KSI, for allegedly infringing on its trademark rights through an Olympic-themed ad campaign. The complaint was lodged in the Colorado federal court on Friday, just a week before the 2024 Summer Olympics are set to begin in Paris.
Logan Paul and KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, launched Prime Hydration in 2022. The brand quickly gained popularity, leveraging its founders' massive social media followings.
The lawsuit claims that Prime Hydration's use of Olympic trademarks, including terms such as "Olympic" and "Team USA," in its marketing materials featuring Team USA basketball player Kevin Durant, is likely to confuse consumers into believing that the USOPC endorses the brand. Durant, an NBA superstar and three-time Olympic gold medalist, collaborated with Prime on an Olympic-themed drink, though he is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Copyright infringement occurs when an individual or entity uses protected works without permission from the copyright holder. This unauthorized use violates the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner, which typically include the rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or create derivative works based on the original content.
To establish a case of copyright infringement, the plaintiff must typically prove several elements. First, the plaintiff must demonstrate ownership of a valid copyright. This is often evidenced by registration with the U.S. Copyright Office, although such registration is not mandatory for the existence of copyright protection. The plaintiff must show that they have the legal rights to the copyrighted material.
Next, the plaintiff must prove the copying of constituent elements of the work that are original. This involves demonstrating that the defendant copied protected elements of the original work. This can be established through direct evidence of copying or by showing that the defendant had access to the work and that the two works are substantially similar. The focus is on the unique and protected parts of the work that have been allegedly copied.
Finally, the plaintiff must establish a lack of authorization. This means proving that the copying was unauthorized, indicating that the defendant did not have permission or a license to use the copyrighted material. The plaintiff must show that the defendant's use of the material was without legal right or consent, completing the case for copyright infringement.
The committee holds exclusive rights to certain terms and symbols associated with the Olympics, and it has a history of rigorously defending these rights to prevent unauthorized commercial use. The USOPC argues that Prime Hydration's actions constitute trademark infringement, as the company has used the USOPC's protected terms on its packaging and advertisements without permission. The committee emphasized that it has an exclusive agreement with Coca-Cola for the use of its trademarks on beverages.
Despite receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the USOPC on July 10, Prime Hydration allegedly continued using the disputed marketing materials. The committee is seeking an injunction to prevent Prime from further using its trademarks and is also requesting unspecified monetary damages.
