Sam Joseph Karam, the owner of Customized Designs, a U.S.-based apparel company selling clothing on platforms like Etsy, was surprised when he received an email from Etsy stating that 11 of his T-shirt designs featuring the term “bruh” had been removed due to a trademark violation. This immediate attention-grabber was unusual for Karam, who typically only encounters one or two listing removals at a time.
Additionally, Etsy had revoked Karam’s Star Seller badge, impacting his sales performance. The email informed Karam that the complaint leading to the takedowns was filed by Malik Yawar Abbas, the Canadian trademark holder of the term “bruh.”
Karam, along with other Etsy sellers, shared experiences with CBC News about having their products removed from the platform following complaints from Abbas. According to Karam, Abbas is leveraging the trademark for profit through licensing rather than producing his merchandise, a practice that some legal experts believe platforms and the legal system should prevent.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) issued a trademark for “bruh” in July 2025 for various clothing items and recently granted another trademark to Abbas for advertising restaurant services. Despite not directly responding to inquiries about the “bruh” trademark, CIPO stated that each trademark application undergoes individual evaluation.
After discovering the trademark holder’s website, Karam found a section outlining the protection of the “bruh” trademark and offering licensing options. Abbas clarified that the website showcases potential commercial uses of the brand but does not sell clothing directly.
When Karam reached out to Abbas regarding the Etsy takedowns, Abbas proposed a settlement of $1,000, which Karam declined, suspecting trademark squatting. Abbas eventually withdrew the complaint to Etsy after the designs were removed, but Karam is exploring legal avenues to challenge the trademark’s validity.
Under recent Canadian trademark laws, trademarks can be invalidated if obtained in bad faith. Carys Craig, an expert in intellectual property law, highlighted that while the law remains untested, the circumstances surrounding the “bruh” trademark may meet the criteria of bad faith.
Despite the controversy, trademarks can be applied to general terms depending on the context. Experts noted that trademark registration does not equate to complete ownership, and the use of the term “bruh” on Etsy may not necessarily constitute infringement.
Paula Clancy, an intellectual property law partner, explained that courts assess whether infringement occurs based on how the trademark is utilized. Etsy sellers facing takedowns have limited recourse for appeal, posing challenges for small businesses against trademark disputes.
Clancy emphasized the rarity of such cases in Canada and the need for clearer rules to address trademark squatting and over-enforcement. Craig suggested stricter processes for trademark issuance and marketplace modifications to facilitate appeals, aiming to prevent contentious situations like the “bruh” trademark debacle.