When Sam Joseph Karam received an email from Etsy, an online retailer, informing him that 11 of his T-shirt designs featuring the term “bruh” had been removed due to a trademark violation, he grew suspicious. Karam, the owner of Customized Designs, a U.S.-based apparel company selling clothing on platforms like Etsy, found it unusual to have multiple listings taken down at once, especially since it led to the removal of his Star Seller badge, impacting his sales.
The takedown was prompted by a complaint from Malik Yawar Abbas, a Canadian individual holding a trademark for the term “bruh,” as per emails reviewed by CBC News. Karam and other Etsy sellers reported similar incidents where their listings were removed following complaints by Abbas, whom Karam accuses of trademark squatting to profit from licensing the term rather than creating products.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) issued a trademark for “bruh” in July 2025, allowing its use in various clothing categories. Another trademark was granted to Abbas for advertising restaurant services. Despite inquiries, CIPO did not provide specific details on the trademark. Abbas, on his website, showcases the trademark’s potential commercial applications, offering licensing options but not selling actual products.
Karam, after refusing Abbas’s demand for $1,000 to withdraw the complaint, expressed concerns about trademark squatting. He is exploring legal avenues to challenge the trademark’s validity on grounds of bad faith. Carys Craig, an intellectual property law professor, explains that Canada’s trademark laws include provisions to invalidate trademarks filed in bad faith, though their application remains untested.
While trademarks can protect words in specific contexts, general terms like “bruh” can be trademarked based on their distinctiveness in a certain industry. However, trademark ownership does not equate to total control over the word’s use, as it depends on how the trademark is used. Clancy, an intellectual property law partner, highlights the need for clear guidelines in trademark enforcement to prevent disputes like this case.
Etsy, in response to takedown requests, removes listings upon infringement notices, urging sellers to comply with legal requirements. However, the absence of an appeals process poses challenges for affected sellers seeking redress. Craig suggests the need for stricter regulations and improved mechanisms for addressing potential bad-faith trademarks to protect businesses from trademark overreach.
In conclusion, the “bruh” trademark controversy highlights the complexities of trademark enforcement and the need for balanced protection of intellectual property rights while preventing abuse of the system.