Video game franchise, Angry Birds, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against a Florida based golf goods company, Angry Club LLC, claiming that Angry Club has infringed Angry Birds’ exclusive rights to the trademarked “Angry Birds” name. Angry Birds seeks to stop Angry Club from registering their name.
According to Angry Birds’ complaint, the alleged similarity between the two companies marks has undermined the Angry Birds’ wildly popular brand. While Angry Birds’ logo is a red bird appearing to be angry thanks to properly positioned black eyebrows, Angry Club’s logo is the “A” in Angry, personified with the addition of furrowed black eyebrows. The “A” is also red in color. The game developer behind Angry Birds, Rovio Entertainment Ltd. (“Rovio”), claims that the similarity between the “angry” characteristics in Angry Club’s “A” and the Angry Birds’ bird character creates confusion that renders Angry Club liable for trademark infringement.
Lastly, Rovio alleges that Angry Club’s actions have lessened the uniqueness of the Angry Birds’ marks and seek injunctive relief barring Angry Club from producing goods with marks that resemble Angry Birds’ marks. Rovio has filed an opposition to the registration of the “Angry Club” mark.
