Pharrell Williams is taking authorized motion towards print-on-demand firm Spreadshirt, accusing it of promoting faux Billionaire Boys Membership clothes and profiting off his model’s identification.
The lawsuit, filed by Williams’ firm, BBC Ice Cream LLC, seeks $14 million in damages and a courtroom order to cease the alleged infringement.
The grievance claims Spreadshirt enabled unauthorized sellers to add and promote counterfeit BBC objects, then printed, packaged and shipped them whereas concealing its position within the course of.
“[Spreadshirt’s] conduct continues unabated, and the manufacture, publishing, promoting on the market and gross sales of counterfeit and infringing Merchandise persist. BBC brings this motion to place a cease to this ongoing illegal conduct and to carry [Spreadshirt] accountable for his or her actions,” Pharrell Williams’ lawyer Richard J. Pocker stated.
The go well with argues that Spreadshirt will not be a impartial platform however an energetic participant within the counterfeiting operation. It accuses the corporate of failing to implement safeguards to stop mental property theft regardless of producing vital income from the gross sales.
In accordance with the grievance, Spreadshirt utilized “white-label” packaging to hide its involvement and supplied minimal instruments for reporting trademark violations. BBC claims this conduct has misled prospects and harmed the model’s repute.
The lawsuit additionally alleges that Spreadshirt violated federal trademark legal guidelines, together with counterfeiting, trademark dilution and false designation of origin. BBC is asking for injunctive reduction, punitive and compensatory damages, and lawyer charges.
Based in 2003 by Pharrell Williams and Japanese designer Nigo, Billionaire Boys Membership shortly grew to become a staple in streetwear tradition. The model blends luxurious trend with skate and Hip-Hop influences, and consists of sublabels like ICECREAM and Billionaire Ladies Membership.
BBC operates flagship shops in New York and Miami, with a world presence in Hong Kong and retail partnerships with Nordstrom, END, Ssense and Selfridges.
Its designs have appeared in music movies for Williams’ “Glad” and Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Sizzling.”
The model has additionally collaborated with the New York Yankees and designer Jeff Hamilton for NBA All-Star Weekend merchandise.
In 2024, the BBC was prominently featured within the LEGO-produced biographical documentary “Piece by Piece,” which chronicled Pharrell’s life and profession.
