Tiger Woods has been accused of “illegal hijacking” the logo of his clothing brand Sun Day Red.
The American company Tigeraire, which designs air-conditioned helmets for athletes and hobbyists for industrial workers, has filed a notice of opposition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Both logos represent the shape of a tiger and have a very similar resemblance. Sun Day Red’s has 15 lines as a tribute to the number of major titles Woods has won in his illustrious career.
‘The actions of SDR, TaylorMade and Tiger Woods blatantly ignore Tigeraire’s long-protected trademark, brand and identity, violate federal and state intellectual property laws, and ignore the confusion their actions create for consumers. The SDR request should be denied,” the court filing said.
Woods and Sun Day Red now have 40 days to respond, but that means their trademark application is on hold, although it is not expected to affect production.
The American company Tigeraire accused Tiger Woods of “hijacking” its logo for its brand.
Sun Day Red launched in May after Woods’ historic 27-year, $500 million partnership with Nike ended.
But fans were instantly angry due to the exorbitant prices and lack of variety.
In addition to the polo shirts, which cost between $115 and $150, the brand also sells hoodies for $200, shorts for $135, pants for $165, and hats for $50.
It owes its name to the fact that Woods always wears red on Sunday, the last day of tournaments.
TaylorMade Golf, which launched Sun Day Red with Woods, told CNBC in response to the court filing: “We have complete confidence in the securitization of our brands.”
Both logos in question represent the shape of a tiger and have a very similar resemblance.
Earlier this month, Woods came under fire for his “disgusting and unacceptable” decision to meet with LIV Golf’s Saudi sponsors in New York City, just one day before the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
The 48-year-old also announced that he had undergone surgery for a pinched nerve in his lower back.
Woods has dealt with significant injury issues in recent years, as he was involved in a serious car accident in 2021 that broke his right leg and ankle and required emergency surgery.
He has only played six rounds since the release of Sun Day Red, and missed the cut at the USPGA, US Open and Open Championship.