When Sam Joseph Karam received an email from online retailer Etsy regarding the removal of 11 T-shirt designs featuring the term “bruh” due to a trademark violation, he became suspicious. Karam, the owner of U.S.-based apparel company Customized Designs, noticed the unusual number of takedowns and the subsequent impact on his sales after losing his Star Seller badge on the platform.
Etsy informed Karam that the complaint leading to the removal came from Malik Yawar Abbas, the holder of a Canadian trademark for “bruh.” Karam and other Etsy sellers reported similar incidents where their listings were taken down following complaints by Abbas.
Karam accused Abbas of “trademark squatting,” suggesting that the trademark holder aims to profit through licensing rather than producing goods. Legal experts argue that platforms and the legal system should address such misuse of trademarks.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) granted a trademark for “bruh” to Abbas in July 2025 for clothing sales and recently for advertising restaurant services. Following the takedowns, Karam discovered Abbas’s website, showcasing licensing options for the “bruh” trademark but not selling any actual products.
Abbas offered to withdraw the complaint against Karam if he agreed to certain terms and paid $1,000, which Karam declined, deeming it bad faith. Abbas defended his trademark as a legitimate licensing brand and withdrew the complaint after the designs were removed.
Karam is exploring legal action to challenge the trademark’s validity on grounds of bad faith, under updated Canadian trademark laws allowing for invalidation in such cases.
Trademark experts explain that trademark ownership doesn’t equate to exclusive word ownership, and the context of use determines infringement. They suggest that the way “bruh” is presented and enforced might constitute bad faith.
Despite disagreements, Etsy’s policy on trademark infringements lacks an appeal process, posing challenges for sellers. Experts advocate for stricter trademark issuance, easier challenges to bad-faith trademarks, and improved appeal mechanisms on online platforms to prevent such disputes and protect sellers’ rights.