Just as LIV Golf ended its legal battle with the PGA Tour by reaching a merger agreement, the Saudi-backed golf league is being sued over one of its team’s logos.
Argentine corporation Cool Brands Supply is filed a federal lawsuit in New Jersey on Thursday against LIV Golf and the HyFlyers GC — which is captained by Phil Mickelson — for trademark infringement, according to multiple reports, arguing that the HyFlyers GC logo is “nearly identical” to that of the Fallen Footwear brand.
In the lawsuit, Cool Brands Supply said the HyFlyers’ use of the logo is “not just reckless and inexplicable — it is willful infringement and unfair competition,” according to ESPN.
The HyFlyers changed their logo this year to the one that Cool Brands Supply argues is too similar to theirs, and have used it on clothing and apparel.
“The similarities between the two marks, particularly when used on clothing, are striking, and are confusing consumers and causing damage to Plaintiff’s senior mark and brand,” Cool Brands Supply’s attorneys said, per ESPN. “Plaintiff previously demanded that Defendants cease use of their infringing logo, and they refused.”
PGA Tour and LIV Golf are ending a war — by joining forces.
The two golf leagues, along with the European DP World Tour, are merging into one company after a period of fierce rivalry, one where LIV Golf defectors were banned from competing on the Tour.
LIV, financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and led by legendary golfer Greg Norman, lured some of the top names in golf last year with reported nine-figure contracts, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.
Other huge golf names, however, like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, stayed loyal to the Tour, despite being offered a massive amount of money.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger
Norman said last year Woods turned down a payday in the range of $700 million-$800 million to stick with the PGA Tour.
With the merger, the Saudi-backed LIV and the Tour are ending an antitrust battle and agreed to end all litigation between the two sides.
“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. “This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model.”
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The 52-year-old Mickelson leads the HyFlyers team, with James Piot, Brendan Steele and Cameron Tringale making up the rest of the squad.
The lawsuit comes on the heels of the stunning merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, a deal announced last Tuesday which also includes the European DP World Tour.
LIV and the PGA Tour were embroiled in antitrust litigation after top golf stars, including Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, defected to LIV and were subsequently banned from playing PGA Tour events.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund is pumping money into the new unnamed company, and the Fund’s governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, will join the PGA Tour’s board of directors.
Mickelson is set to play at this week’s U.S. Open in Los Angeles.