When Sam Joseph Karam received an email from the online marketplace Etsy informing him that 11 of his T-shirt designs featuring the term “bruh” were removed due to a trademark violation, he became suspicious. Karam, the owner of Customized Designs, an apparel company based in the U.S., expressed surprise as this was an unusual occurrence for him. He also mentioned that Etsy had stripped him of his Star Seller badge, resulting in a noticeable decline in his sales.
The email from Etsy mentioned that the complaint leading to the removal of Karam’s designs was filed by Malik Yawar Abbas, who holds a Canadian trademark for the term “bruh.” Karam is among several Etsy sellers who have faced similar takedowns following reports by Abbas. According to CBC News, emails reviewed by the news outlet confirmed that the removals were in response to complaints by Abbas.
Karam criticized Abbas, the trademark holder, accusing him of “squatting” on the trademark to profit from licensing the word rather than creating products himself. Legal experts suggest that platforms and the legal system should take steps to prevent trademarks from being exploited in this manner.
A trademark for “bruh” was issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in July 2025, allowing its use in various clothing items. Another trademark was recently granted to Abbas for advertising restaurant services using the same term. Despite inquiries, the CIPO did not comment on the “bruh” trademark specifically but noted that trademark applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Following the removal of his listings, Karam discovered Abbas’s website, which detailed the protection of the “bruh” trademark and offered licensing options for its use. The website primarily showcases mock-ups of clothing and products featuring the word “bruh.” Abbas defended the website’s content as demonstrating potential commercial uses of the brand.
When Karam approached Abbas about withdrawing the complaints, Abbas proposed a settlement requiring Karam to agree to certain terms and pay $1,000. Karam declined, alleging trademark squatting and bad faith on Abbas’s part. Despite the disagreement, Abbas later withdrew the complaint to Etsy after the designs were already removed.
Karam, seeking legal advice, contemplates challenging the trademark’s validity based on bad faith. Under Canadian trademark laws, trademarks filed in bad faith can be invalidated, although the outcome in such cases remains uncertain.
Trademark experts emphasize that trademark ownership does not equate to owning the word outright. The context in which the trademark is used determines potential infringement. Clancy suggested that Karam’s shirts may not necessarily infringe, as the word “bruh” could be used in various ways without violating trademark rights.
Etsy’s response indicated that they act upon legitimate infringement notices and advised sellers to communicate with complainants if they believe their listings were mistakenly removed. Clancy acknowledged the challenge for sellers without an appeal process in such situations.
Cases like this involving trademark disputes are uncommon in Canada. Experts highlight the need for stricter regulations to prevent bad-faith trademarks and advocate for enhanced processes to challenge such trademarks and appeal takedown decisions on online platforms like Etsy. They suggest that current policies could be exploited, emphasizing the importance of balanced protection in trademark regulations.
