Sam Joseph Karam, the owner of Customized Designs, an apparel company in the U.S., recently faced a situation where 11 of his T-shirt designs featuring the word “bruh” were removed from Etsy due to a trademark violation claim. Karam expressed surprise at the mass takedown of his listings, as it was a departure from the usual one or two listings being flagged. Additionally, Etsy revoked his Star Seller badge, leading to a noticeable decline in sales for Karam.
The trademark dispute stemmed from a Canadian trademark holder named Malik Yawar Abbas, who reported Karam’s designs to Etsy. Karam, along with other Etsy sellers, discovered that their listings were removed following complaints by Abbas. Karam accused Abbas of “trademark squatting,” suggesting that Abbas aimed to profit from licensing the word rather than producing goods himself.
The trademark “bruh” was officially registered by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in 2025 for various clothing types. Abbas also secured another trademark for the term related to advertising restaurant services. Despite Karam’s attempt to resolve the issue with Abbas, he was asked to agree to certain terms and pay $1,000, a request he refused, deeming it bad faith.
Karam is now contemplating legal action to challenge the trademark’s validity based on bad faith. According to intellectual property experts, Canada’s trademark laws allow for invalidation of trademarks filed in bad faith since 2019. However, the application of this law remains untested, leaving the outcome uncertain.
While trademarks can protect brands, experts note that trademarking a word does not equate to total ownership. Trademarks aim to distinguish brands and their products, allowing for some exceptions in usage. Karam’s designs featuring the word “bruh” could fall within these exceptions and may not necessarily infringe on the trademark.
Overall, the case highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding trademark disputes on online platforms like Etsy. There is a call for clearer regulations and better processes to address potential bad-faith trademarks and provide avenues for sellers to appeal takedown decisions.
In conclusion, the “bruh” trademark saga underscores the evolving landscape of trademark enforcement and the need for a balanced approach to protect intellectual property rights while preventing abuse of the system.