Sam Joseph Karam, a clothing entrepreneur from the United States who operates Customized Designs, found himself in a predicament when Etsy, an online retail platform, notified him that 11 of his T-shirt designs featuring the term “bruh” were removed due to a trademark infringement claim. This unusual number of takedowns raised suspicion for Karam, especially since his Star Seller badge was also revoked by Etsy, leading to a noticeable decline in sales.
The removals were triggered by a complaint filed by Malik Yawar Abbas, the holder of a Canadian trademark for the term “bruh.” Karam, along with several other Etsy sellers, experienced similar takedowns following complaints from Abbas, indicating a pattern of enforcement by the trademark holder.
Karam criticized Abbas for allegedly exploiting the trademark for financial gain through licensing rather than product creation, a practice known as “trademark squatting.” Legal experts suggest that platforms and legal mechanisms should be more proactive in preventing such misuse of trademarks.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) granted Abbas the trademark for “bruh” in 2025, allowing its use in various clothing items. The trademark was also extended to cover advertising for restaurant services. Despite inquiries, CIPO refrained from commenting on the specific trademark.
Abbas’s website showcases licensing options for the “bruh” trademark, emphasizing commercial applications rather than actual product sales. Karam reached out to Abbas to address the takedowns, only to be presented with a demand for $1,000 as a condition for retracting the complaint, which Karam refused, citing concerns of bad faith.
Following the removal of the listings, Abbas withdrew his complaint, stating that the products were no longer accessible to Canadian consumers. However, Karam expressed frustration over the impact on his business and is contemplating legal action to challenge the trademark’s validity on the grounds of bad faith.
According to intellectual property law experts, Canadian trademark laws introduced in 2019 allow for the invalidation of trademarks filed in bad faith. While the legal implications of this case remain uncertain, the issues surrounding the use of the “bruh” trademark highlight the need for clearer guidelines to address potential abuses of the trademark system.
Trademark holders like Abbas defend their actions as legitimate efforts to develop a licensing brand, emphasizing their right to protect and commercialize the trademark. The debate over trademark ownership and enforcement underscores the complexities of trademark law in the context of everyday language and cultural references.