Steven King d/b/a If Love is a Drug…God is Dope v. God is Dope, LLC and God is Dope Foundation, Inc. and Sharod Simpson, Civil Action No. 1:22-cv-03926-CAP (N.D. Ga., Sept. 28, 2022)
Plaintiff Steven King is the founder of a faith-based movement based on his personal journey. He began using the phrase “If Love is a Drug…God is Dope!!” on social media starting in 2013 and soon after, he started marketing the phrase on clothing and wristbands. According to the complaint, he has used the phrase in commerce continuously since 2014 and received a trademark for clothing using the phrase in 2015.
The lawsuit alleges that Simpson, an Atlanta resident, has been using a “nearly identical” mark on clothing. In 2018, Simpson filed a U.S. trademark application for “God is Dope” but the USPTO rejected it on the grounds it was likely to be confused with King’s trademark. However, the lawsuit alleges Simpson continued to sell “God is Dope”-themed clothing in violation of the trademark held by King. The plaintiff seeks an injunction to prevent Simpson from continuing to sell products using the “God is Dope” phrase. He also seeks actual and punitive damages based on alleged unauthorized use of the trademark.
