LIV Golf sued by vodka distillery for trademark infringement - ESPN

A Long Island-based distillery sued LIV Golf in federal court Monday, alleging the golf league's use of «LIV» branding for alcoholic beverages and apparel infringes on its registered trademark.

Long Island Spirits Inc. sued LIV Golf in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, accusing the league of violating federal and New York trademark laws.

The craft distillery is asking the court to enjoin LIV Golf from using «LIV» in connection with the sales of alcohol or apparel and to pay punitive damages for the league's «willful and intentional unfair competition and misuse of the LIV Marks.»

«The LIV brand is beloved by consumers but is now threatened by Defendant LIV Golf's infringement, and LIV brings this action to protect its brand, preserve its reputation, and recover for the damages it suffers each day that LIV Golf persists in its infringement,» the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit alleges that the golf league's use of the LIV brand has caused «widespread confusion amongst customers, distributors, and depressing sales» of its craft alcohol products.

The lawsuit notes that LIV Golf is now offering alcoholic beverages such as the LIV Clubhouse Cooler, a vodka-based cocktail with lemon, basil and mint, and the Have a Beautiful Day cocktail, a «bright, refreshing and slightly sweet vodka based cocktail that echoes the LIV colors of blue and green.»

Long Island Spirits has owned multiple registered and common-law variations of the «LIV» mark since 2007, according to the lawsuit.

«Since it launched in 2021, LIV Golf has deployed billions of dollars in marketing efforts aimed at buying prominence, including by expanding into 'LIV' branded alcohol and apparel-that is, precisely the areas in which LIV owns