Harry Styles Wins Early Court Order Blocking Counterfeit Sellers

A Northern District of Illinois judge sided with singer Harry Styles on Friday, granting him a preliminary injunction to stop counterfeiters from selling merchandise that infringe his trademarks.

Judge Franklin U. Valderrama found that Styles’ trademark infringement suit —filed earlier this month against e-commerce store operators selling counterfeit apparel and merchandise— has a likelihood of succeeding. He also said that a previously granted temporary restraining order establishes that Styles would “suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted.”

The court order prevents the list of almost 200 defendants from using Styles’ wide range of marks to create or sell counterfeits, or take any actions that would infringe his trademarks.

The “Don’t Worry Darling” star has an extensive array of trademarks associated with his name, including for apparel, celebrity appearances, stationary, and entertainment purposes. A variety of counterfeit products are being sold on popular online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and Etsy, according to his complaint filed Jan.10.

Styles claims that the defendants operate using several fictitious aliases, and often include content and images in their advertising that make it hard to distinguish them from authorized retailers.

The singer is seeking all profits and triple damages for infringement, as well as $2,000,000 in statutory damages for each use of the marks and filed a motion for preliminary injunction against several of the defendants on Jan. 25.

A representative for Styles didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. He is represented by Greer, Burns & Crain Ltd.

The case is Styles v. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A, N.D. Ill., No. 1:23-cv-00137, order granted 1/27/23.