Overview
Knobbe Martens is one of the nation’s leading law firms for trademark infringement and unfair competition litigation. Given the firm’s breadth of experience and broad range of success, we are consistently recognized in all aspects of federal and state trademark infringement and unfair competition litigation.
Our trademark litigation lawyers represent clients of every size, from emerging companies protecting their first trademark to Fortune 500 companies safeguarding global trademark portfolios. We litigate trademark, trade dress, and unfair competition disputes in courts throughout the United States and around the world.
Who We Represent in Trademark Litigation Matters
We have successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in U.S. district courts nationwide, before the International Trade Commission (ITC), and before the USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) and Federal Circuit. We also advise clients on proceedings involving false and misleading advertising claims before the Better Business Bureau National Advertising Division (NAD) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Where appropriate, we position cases for settlement and guide our clients through successful mediation.
Our clients span nearly every industry and hold trademark portfolios of every size, from a single mark used in one state to international trademark registrations spanning dozens of countries. Because trademark litigation rarely happens in isolation, our litigators work closely with the firm’s Trademark & Brand Protection team, which handles trademark clearance, trademark prosecution, and portfolio management, so clients receive coordinated strategy from registration through enforcement.
How Our Trademark Litigation Lawyers Can Help
Our litigators advocate for clients’ rights from the initial complaint through appeal, including claims of counterfeiting, trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, false advertising, unfair competition, rights of publicity, domain name disputes, and other related state law claims. Whether we are enforcing a client’s trademark and copyright rights or defending against an infringement claim brought by a competitor, we represent clients with an eye toward practical, business-driven results.
Anti-Counterfeiting
Knobbe Martens helps clients identify counterfeiting operations, pursue civil actions and seizure orders, and coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and online marketplaces to remove infringing listings. We regularly seek ex parte seizure orders and temporary restraining orders to shut down counterfeiting operations, and we help clients build long-term anti-counterfeiting programs that protect their brands in the United States and abroad.
Trademark Infringement
Our lawyers represent trademark owners seeking to stop infringing use, as well as companies defending against infringement claims brought by competitors. We litigate likelihood of confusion, dilution, and priority disputes in federal and state courts nationwide, and we handle related proceedings before the TTAB and the Federal Circuit.
Trade Dress Infringement
Knobbe Martens has decades of experience litigating trade dress disputes involving product configuration, packaging, store design, color and sound marks and other nontraditional marks. Our lawyers have tried trade dress cases through verdict and regularly help clients build the evidentiary record needed to establish that a mark or design has acquired distinctiveness and secondary meaning.
False Advertising
Knobbe Martens litigates false advertising disputes under the Lanham Act and state consumer protection statutes, and we regularly appear before the Better Business Bureau National Advertising Division (NAD), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our False & Comparative Advertising Litigation lawyers help clients assert and defend claims involving mislabeling, greenwashing, and deceptive marketing campaigns.
Unfair Competition
Our trademark litigation team represents clients asserting and defending unfair competition claims under federal and state law, trade dress, or trade secrets claims. We take a business-focused approach to resolving these disputes, whether through early settlement or trial.
Rights of Publicity
Knobbe Martens represents both individuals and companies in rights of publicity disputes, including matters involving endorsements, merchandising, and the use of a person’s identity in advertising or branding without consent. Our lawyers help clients navigate the patchwork of state right of publicity laws and develop strategies that protect valuable personal and celebrity brands.
Domain Name Disputes
Our lawyers represent clients in domain name disputes before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and other arbitration panels under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), as well as in federal court actions under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. We also help clients develop proactive domain name strategies to protect their brands online.
Why Clients Choose Our Trademark Litigators
Clients choose Knobbe Martens for trademark and unfair competition litigation because our lawyers understand a trademark’s value at every stage, from registering trademarks and filing trademark applications with the Trademark Office through robust enforcement and litigation. Our trademark litigators regularly appear in courts nationwide and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and clients rely on that depth of experience when the stakes are highest.
Our firm offers collective experience across a wide range of industries, including consumer products such as and clothing, toys, and food and beverages; financial and insurance services; and high tech, including semiconductor chips, medical devices, automobiles, software and hardware, and cleantech.
Our trademark litigation team works alongside the firm’s lawyers, giving clients a single source for trademark clearance, licensing and enforcement, and litigation. This coordinated approach allows us to protect trademark portfolios efficiently, whether a client needs trademark due diligence in a corporate transaction or defense in a high-stakes infringement suit.
Awards and Recognitions
- Highly ranked in Trademark, Copyright, and Trade Secrets in California in the 2026 Chambers USA guide
- Ranked nationally and regionally for Trademark Litigation in the 2026 World Trademark Review 1000 guide
- Nationally ranked for Trademark Litigation in the annual Legal 500 U.S.A. guide
- Ranked nationally and in California for Trademark Disputes in Managing IP’s annual IP Stars guide
- Named to The Fashion Law’s annual “Top U.S. Law Firms for Retail Companies” list for 2026 and 2025
- Recognized for contentious trademark work in World IP Review’s USA Trademark guide
- Earned top-tier national and regional rankings for Trademark Law in the annual Best Law Firms guide
Representative Experience
Monster Energy Co. & Reign Beverage vs. Vital Pharm & VPX Sports & Bang Inc.
Represented Orange Bang, Inc. and Monster Energy Company in a trademark infringement and breach-of-contract arbitration involving the BANG brand. Following an eight-day arbitration hearing, secured a $175 million award, a permanent injunction (or ongoing royalty), and more than $9 million in attorneys’ fees and costs, one of the largest trademark infringement awards on record.
Betterbody Foods & Nutrition LLC, v. Oatly AB
Represented Oatly, a leading producer of oat-based beverages, in a trademark dispute involving the OATSOME mark. Successfully defended against infringement claims, asserted Oatly’s common law trademark rights, and pursued cancellation of the opposing party’s registration, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client.
Monster Energy Co. v. Integrated Supply Network LLC
Represented Monster in a trademark and trade dress infringement case. After jury trial, the jury found that defendant infringed Monster’s trademarks and trade dress rights. After appeal and remand to the district court, the district court awarded Monster Energy $10.4 million in disgorgement of ISN’s profits. The court entered a stipulated final consent judgment and permanent injunction against defendant.
Monster Energy Co. v. BeastUp
Represented Monster in a trademark infringement and dilution case. After a bench trial, the court entered final judgment in favor of Monster on all counts, holding that Monster’s trademark was famous and that defendant infringed and diluted Monster’s trademarks by blurring.
Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc. v. Beckertime LLC
Represented Rolex in an action to protect the famous Rolex® trademarks against counterfeiting and infringement by BeckerTime, an online retailer of “customized” Rolex watches. The case proceeded to trial and resulted in a final judgment of trademark counterfeiting and infringement and a permanent injunction in favor of Rolex. On appeal, the appellate court affirmed the findings of trademark counterfeiting and infringement and expanded the scope of injunctive relief, reinforcing important protections against the unauthorized sale of modified goods retaining a trademark owner’s marks.
Sun Rings, Inc. v. P&P Imports, LLC
Defended P&P Imports in a complex patent, trade dress, and trademark dispute involving solar pool heaters. Secured dismissal of key patent and trade dress claims at the pleading stage, resulting in an early victory and dismissal of the case.
Energy Beverages LLC v. Full Throttle Automotive
Represented Energy Beverages LLC, an affiliate of Monster Energy Company, in a trademark infringement action involving the FULL THROTTLE brand. Enforced the client’s rights in its registered word and design marks against an automotive repair business using a confusingly similar mark and stylization, resulting in a favorable confidential settlement.
Razor USA LLC v. Golabs Inc.
Represents Razor USA, a leading manufacturer of scooters and other ride-on products, in trademark litigation involving claims to rights in the term “HOVERBOARD.” Knobbe Martens is defending against infringement and counterfeiting allegations while pursuing claims to invalidate the asserted trademark and protect Razor’s ability to compete in the marketplace.
Gas Drawls, LLC v. Whaleco, Inc. d/b/a Temu
Represents Temu, a leading online marketplace platform, in trademark litigation involving claims related to products offered by third-party sellers. Knobbe Martens is defending the company in complex cases that raise significant issues regarding trademark liability and the responsibilities of online marketplace operators.
Twenty One Pilots, LLC v. Whaleco, Inc. d/b/a Temu
Represents Temu in trademark litigation brought by a musical artist alleging that products sold by third-party sellers on the company’s online marketplace infringe trademark rights. The case raises important questions regarding the scope of trademark liability for online marketplace operators and the responsibility for products offered by independent sellers.
Ultra Flow Holdings, LLC v. Breden Incorporated
Successfully defended a manufacturer and distributor of beverage gas regulators against trade dress infringement, dilution, false designation of origin, and unfair competition claims involving regulator product designs used in soda and beverage dispensing systems. Knobbe Martens asserted counterclaims challenging the validity of the alleged trade dress rights and pursued false advertising claims, helping achieve an early settlement that allowed the clients to continue selling their products nationwide.
