The golf world is ablaze, but it’s not birdies or eagles at the ongoing Presidents Cup that are making headlines. Instead, Tiger Woods’s Sun Day Red emblem has ignited a fiery controversy, shifting the focus from fairways to fashion. Launched in February and debuted on May 1, 2024, the clothing brand’s highly anticipated arrival was met with mixed reviews. That left some questioning whether the products lived up to their quality and premium pricing. 

But now, Sun Day Red faces an additional challenge: a trademark dispute. Tigeraire, a company specializing in cooling products for athletes, claims Sun Day Red’s logo has been “unlawfully hijacked,” violating federal and state intellectual property laws. According to Tigeraire, the golfer’s brand has disregarded its long-standing protected mark, brand, and identity. The company asserts that SDRs actions “blatantly ignore” their established rights, setting the stage for a potentially contentious legal battle.

Their court filing said, “The actions of SDR, TaylorMade, and Tiger Woods blatantly ignore Tigeraire’s long-standing protected mark, brand, and identity, violate federal and state intellectual property law, and disregard the consumer confusion their actions create. SDR’s application should be denied,” shared by NUCLR Golf on their X handle.

The trademark dispute threatens to halt the brand’s logo operations. According to trademark expert Josh Gerben, “In order for Tiger Woods and TaylorMade to get this trademark registered, you’re gonna have to win this case.” The opposition proceeding will also bring the trademark application that Woods filed for his new logo to a pause, potentially delaying Sun Day Red’s plans for brand expansion.

TaylorMade Golf, however, remains confident in its trademark security. They told CNBC, “We have full confidence in the securitization of our trademarks.” This development may potentially lead to a settlement before trial. The trademark debate sparked a frenzy, with critics and defenders weighing in. 

Golf enthusiasts weighed in with mixed opinions on Tiger Woods’ logo theft case

From skepticism about the brand’s quality to playful jabs at the logo itself, opinions on this heated debate are as varied as the patterns on a golf shirt. One fan didn’t mince words, bluntly stating, “Sun Day Red is terrible anyway.” This reaction reflects the underwhelming response to Sun Day Red’s launch. Despite the excitement of its debut in May, the brand’s products, including apparel and accessories, have been widely criticized for their “ordinary” look. Fans have gone as far as comparing the designs to those found at Ross, Marshall, and Costco—retailers known for discount clothing rather than luxury goods.

Another enthusiast had a playful take on the logos at the heart of the dispute, saying, “Oops. The Tigeraire logo is better, too.” Tigeraire’s logo, featuring a more defined tiger-like figure, is visually more detailed compared to the minimalistic approach taken by SDR. 

A third fan saw the controversy as an opportunity for a fresh start; he hilariously suggested, “Good opportunity to restart, make better designs, and have way better manufacturing. They made low-quality clothing and sold it for so much. Tell them to call me 🤣🤣.” The fan points out a significant criticism SDR has faced since its launch—namely, the perceived disconnect between the product’s quality and its steep price point. For instance, the brand’s “rain gear” collection features a jacket and pants that retail for $550 and $500, respectively. Add in a $150 umbrella, and fans were quick to express their disbelief at the pricing. The products were also called out for not being sweat-proof.

Another fan commented on the logos’ alleged similarities but wasn’t convinced, saying, “It’s not close to the same.” A fan took a lighthearted jab, saying, “Their logo has more stripes aka more major wins than Tiger.” They pointed out that while Tigeraire claims infringement, SDR’s logo holds a special significance, featuring 15 stripes representing Woods’s major championship wins. 

So, what are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think the SDR logo resembles Tigeraire’s? Have you purchased anything from SDR? Let us know in the comments below.