Sam Joseph Karam, an entrepreneur running Customized Designs, was puzzled when he received a notification from Etsy stating that 11 of his T-shirt designs featuring the term “bruh” were removed due to a trademark violation. This mass takedown, unlike the usual one or two listings, raised Karam’s suspicions immediately. Along with the removal, Etsy also rescinded his Star Seller badge, impacting his sales performance.
The email revealed that a Canadian trademark holder named Malik Yawar Abbas reported Karam’s shirts for trademark infringement. Karam and other Etsy sellers shared similar experiences of items being removed following complaints by Abbas, who holds the trademark for “bruh.” Karam accused Abbas of “trademark squatting,” suggesting that Abbas aims to profit from licensing the term rather than producing goods himself.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office granted a trademark for “bruh” in July 2025, allowing its use on various clothing items. Another trademark for the same term was recently given to Abbas for advertising restaurant services. Despite being questioned about the trademark, CIPO did not provide specific answers but mentioned that each application is reviewed individually.
Karam discovered Abbas’s website, where the trademark holder promotes licensing the term “bruh” for commercial purposes. Abbas demanded $1,000 from Karam to withdraw the complaint, which Karam refused, believing it was an act of bad faith. Despite Abbas withdrawing the complaint later, Karam expressed intentions to challenge the trademark based on bad faith.
Legal experts suggest that Canada’s trademark laws allow invalidating trademarks filed in bad faith since 2019. The application of bad faith in this case remains untested in court, leaving uncertainties about the outcome. Abbas defended his actions, stating that the trademark was intended for commercial licensing purposes, not to hinder ordinary use of the term.
Trademarking common phrases like “bruh” is acceptable if used in a specific context to distinguish brands. Experts clarify that owning a trademark does not grant absolute control over the term, and infringement assessments consider how the term is applied. Etsy sellers face challenges in appealing takedown decisions due to platform policies.
Cases of trademark squatting are uncommon in Canada, with most cases involving unauthorized use of trademarks. Experts warn about the financial burden on small businesses in trademark disputes. They advocate for stricter regulations and enhanced processes for challenging questionable trademarks to prevent exploitation of the system.
In conclusion, the dispute over the “bruh” trademark highlights the need for clearer guidelines and improved mechanisms to address bad-faith trademark practices while balancing the rights of trademark holders and creators.
