Drake hit with trademark lawsuit over ‘Members Only’ tour merchandise

Drake sued for allegedly using "Members Only" branding on tour merch without proper licensing.

Drake's "It's All A Blur" tour, celebrated as one of hip-hop's most successful ventures, has hit a snag following a lawsuit filed by JR Apparel, the custodians of the Members Only brand. 

The lawsuit, lodged in New York on June 11, stems from allegations that Drake's Away From Home Touring company improperly used the "Members Only" trademark, a title shared by one of his tracks from the album "For All The Dogs."

According to documents obtained by AllHipHop and reports from Billboard, the suit claims that Away From Home Touring, alongside Live Nation, failed to secure the necessary licensing to use the trademark, potentially leading to consumer confusion. 

The legal complaint details that "Away From Home sold, offered for sale and/or advertised a T-shirt bearing JR Apparel’s Members Only mark on the front of the t-shirt at Drake’s ‘It’s All A Blur Tour’ (the ‘Infringing T-shirt’)."

The conflict intensified despite attempts to amicably resolve the issue between April and June, ultimately leading to no resolution.

JR Apparel's attorneys argue, "The fact that ‘Members Only’ is a song on Drake’s album ‘For All the Dogs’ does not obviate the likelihood of confusion or give Live Nation and/or Drake license to use our client’s MEMBERS ONLY Marks in such a confusing manner, particularly on or in connection with apparel items."

The lawsuit also highlights the sale of counterfeit and confusingly similar merchandise on platforms like eBay, exacerbating the alleged damage. 

JR Apparel is now seeking damages and a court injunction to halt the sale of any further infringing merchandise.

This lawsuit comes at a pivotal moment as Drake fans have started creating their own themed merchandise amid his lyrical battles with other artists, suggesting a potential shift in merchandising strategy might be on the horizon for the Toronto superstar to avoid future legal challenges.