Puma logo (L) and Sun Day Red Tiger logo (R)
Source: US Patent and Trademark Office
Sun Day Red isn't out of the woods yet when it comes to trademarking its logo.
Footwear giant Puma has filed a last-minute objection to Tiger Woods' logos associated with its Sun Day Red brand, it emerged last week.
The German sneaker and apparel company says the Sun Day Red logo is too similar to the logo Puma has used since 1969. The company filed to prevent the golf brand, owned by TaylorMade, from using the proposed mark.
“Due to the confusing similarity of the marks and the identical, legally identical or closely related nature of the parties' goods and services, there is likely to be consumer confusion between the Challenged Marks and the Leaping Cat logo,” Puma said in the submission.
Side-by-side comparison with the Puma logo (L) and the Sun Day Red Tiger logo (R).
Source: US Patent and Trademark Office
Shoes with Puma logo (L) and Sun Day Red Tiger logo (R).
Source: US Patent and Trademark Office
In a statement to CNBC, TaylorMade said, “We have great confidence in our trademarks and logos.”
Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney at Gerben IP, said Puma's challenge is “significant.”
“This is a real fight,” said Gerben, whose company is not involved in the Puma lawsuit. “Any time you have an open process, you can lose. I think Puma has a legitimate case.”
According to Gerben, the two parties could still reach a settlement before the case goes to trial, probably in September 2026.
Gerben said disputes over logos are much less common than trademark disputes over names or slogans.
“Tiger definitely has a target on his back,” he said. “It's big enough to move the markets.”
