BOSTON — Mix sex with golf, and its likely you’ll have a winner.
That’s why the maker of Titleist golf products, a famous name on golf courses for 85 years, has filed a federal complaint against a company that used the same cursive font that it has used continuously for 85 years on its products.
On Friday, Titleist makers Acushnet sued for trademark infringement against an Australian company called Golf Gods that has created a “Titties” line of novelty golf items and hats.
Acushnet said that, besides infringing on its “Titleist” mark, Golf Gods is peddling products that infringe on its “#1 in gold” mark by using “#1 sluttiest ball in gold.” The company also said that its “FootJoy” mark was poached for Golf Gods “FootJob” logo and its “Pro V1” mark slightly altered to read “Hoe V1.”
Titleist makers claim that the parody creates an “unwholesome and obscene association with sexual activity” and has caused injury.
It is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as an injunction over the line similar to its Titleist products.
“Defendant’s use of the infringing trade dress and the infringing marks falsely suggests that the infringing products are connected to, sponsored, approved or authorized by, or affiliated in some way with plaintiff,” the lawsuit said.
In an earlier suit, another company, I Made Bogey, sold products branded “Titties” and “Titlost,” stylized in the same cursive font. That suit was settled after five months of litigation.
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