Dustin Johnson’s Legal Headache Not Bothersome as a Proven Phil Mickelson Strategy Can Turn Ultimate Savior

Lawsuit Magnet? The term seems quite suitable for LIV Golf, given the long list of legal matters the league has faced since its inception. At the top of the list is when the PGA Tour brought the breakaway league to court. While that is now a thing of the past with the emergence of the $3 billion PIF-PGA Tour deal, recently, another legal hassle has just knocked on LIV Golf’s doorstep.

This time it involves Dustin Johnson and his captained team, the 4Aces GC. Who has taken them to court now? It was the University of Alabama that filed a notice on June 30 with the US Patent and Trademark Office and claimed that Johnson’s team logo was copying its iconic ‘A’ trademark. The university has used the logo on all its athletic team jerseys, including men’s and women’s golf teams, at least since 2003.

John Nucci, a sports attorney, was the first to share that Alabama’s application argued that 4Aces GC logo design has the “same literal element” as theirs, and the letter ‘A’ “is visually similar to and creates a commercial impression similar to” that of the University of Alabama. They claimed that the similarity in design is “likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception in the minds of the public” and may damage the image of the university in the end.

The move by the University of Alabama comes after LIV Golf filed an intent-to-use application for the 4Aces GC logo last June. The league now has a month to respond to appeal, as the deadline is reportedly next month. But this isn’t the first time that a LIV Golf team has been dragged into design lawsuits. Previously, the Phil Mickelson-led team was in a similar situation; however, there weren’t any grave consequences for the Hyflyer GC.

The perfect solution for Dustin Johnson’s troubles

Last September, a lawsuit was filed by an Argentine company called Cool Brands Supply against HyFlyers GC’s logo. The company specializes in skateboarding footwear and apparel and also owns the brand Fallen. They claimed that the logo was not just “reckless and inexplicable” but a “wilful infringement and unfair competition.” 

The dispute was filed in New Jersey’s federal district court and was over the logo’s similarity. However, it was settled in January 2024, as both parties agreed. Ultimately, Phil Mickelson’s team decided to change its logo from all its apparel and debut a new one for the 2024 season. The change was named “Refresh for 2024” and didn’t resemble the one used by Fallen.

Nonetheless, Lefty’s team successfully resolved the matter with Cool Brands and has adopted a new logo that represents the team. The situation with 4Aces GC might end on a similar note, as the team might look towards changing its logo to avoid any further dispute. But LIV Golf has another issue on hand. Adidas had also taken legal action against LIV Golf and its striped ‘L’ logo, saying that it was eerily similar to its striped logo present on shoes, apparel, and more. The case has been ongoing since then.

How will the Saudi-backed league find itself out of these legal battles? It remains to be seen.