Detroit Lions Sued Over ‘Motor City Muscle’ Uniform Branding

December 22, 2025, 6:03 PM UTC

The Detroit Lions infringed a music festival’s trademark by labeling the team’s black alternate uniforms “Motor City Muscle,” a federal lawsuit says.

The football team’s brand for uniforms unveiled in April 2024 mimicks the name of “a 100+ band, muscle car celebration and major cultural event” held in downtown Detroit, US Events LLC said in a complaint filed Dec. 19 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

US Events, which hosts the music festival, said the team even held a live event featuring rock music and muscle cars to announce the jerseys. The company also accused ...

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