In an unexpected turn of events, Sam Joseph Karam, the owner of the U.S.-based apparel company Customized Designs, was surprised when he received an email from popular online retailer Etsy informing him that 11 of his T-shirt designs featuring the term “bruh” had been removed due to a trademark violation. This action raised red flags for Karam, as it was highly unusual to have multiple listings taken down simultaneously.
Not only were Karam’s designs removed, but Etsy also stripped him of his Star Seller badge, leading to a noticeable decline in his sales. The email indicated that a Canadian trademark holder named Malik Yawar Abbas reported the violation on Karam’s shirts bearing the term “bruh.”
Karam, along with several other Etsy sellers, shared similar experiences with CBC News, revealing that their listings were removed following complaints from Abbas. Karam accused Abbas of “trademark squatting,” suggesting that Abbas aimed to profit by licensing the term rather than using it to create products himself.
The term “bruh” was trademarked by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in July 2025 for various clothing items. Abbas also obtained a separate trademark for the term related to advertising restaurant services. Despite the trademarks, Karam discovered Abbas’s website showcasing how he safeguards the trademark and offering licensing options for its use, emphasizing commercial applications.
Abbas proposed a settlement of $1,000 to withdraw his complaint against Karam, who declined the offer, citing what he believes to be trademark squatting. While Abbas refuted the squatting claim, he withdrew the complaint to Etsy after Karam’s designs were already removed from the platform for Canadian consumers.
Karam is now contemplating legal action to challenge the trademark’s validity based on bad faith, with the possibility of invoking Canada’s trademark laws introduced in 2019 to address trademarks filed in bad faith. Intellectual property expert Carys Craig from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School highlighted the complexity of determining bad faith in such cases under the law.
Trademarking a term does not automatically confer ownership, and the context in which the trademark is used matters. Despite the disputes, experts suggest that the “bruh” apparel on Etsy may not infringe on the trademark, depending on how the term is integrated into the designs.
Etsy’s response to trademark complaints underscores the platform’s commitment to upholding legal standards, although the lack of an appeal process poses challenges for affected sellers. Instances like these question the effectiveness of trademark enforcement and the need for clearer regulations to prevent abuse of the system.
This incident serves as a test case for trademark governance, highlighting the need for stronger measures to address potential bad-faith trademarks and ensure fair treatment of sellers on online platforms.