Dustin Johnson faces fresh legal headache (!) ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia and The Open

The University of Alabama has filed an opposition to a trademark application being sought by Dustin Johnson's LIV Golf team.

Andy Roberts

11 Jul 2024

Dustin Johnson's LIV Golf team, 4 Aces GC, have been hit with a legal headache on the eve of this week's LIV Golf Andalucia.

According to Sports Law Attorney John Nucci, the University of Alabama has filed an opposition to Johnson's 4 Aces GC logo citing it resembles it too closely.

Two-time major champion Johnson is the captain of 4 Aces GC, which also comprises Patrick Reed, Pat Perez and Harold Varner III.

Johnson's team, which won the inaugural 2022 season, have been badly struggling for form in 2024.

The 4 Aces are currently ranked 10th out of 13 teams in the season-long standings.

And things could be about to get even worse for Johnson's team after today's latest legal update.

Scroll below to learn why Johnson's LIV Golf team are facing a legal headache...

Sports Law Attorney Nucci was the first to break the news, less than 24 hours before the start of the first round of LIV Golf Andalucia.

Context: trademark owners have a responsibility to protect their trademarks from infringement.

If they fail to take action against potential infringers, it can weaken their mark and/or eliminate their rights.

Alabama’s opposition could be for the purpose of ensuring they keep…
— John Nucci (@JNucci23) July 11, 2024

Nucci tweeted:

NEW: the University of Alabama has filed an opposition to LIV’s “4 Aces” trademark application, arguing that:
The 4 Aces design contains the “same literal element” as Alabama’s, and the style of the letter “is visually similar to and creates a commercial impression similar to” the Alabama design.
LIV has faced other trademark challenges from Adidas and Fallen Footwear.

But Nucci later tweeted the University of Alabama's opposition to the 4 Aces GC logo 'could be for the purpose of ensuring they keep up with enforcement / policing of their trademark rather than a genuine belief that they'll prevail'.

The filing by the University of Alabama comes seven months after Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers GC were forced to change their logo.

That was after an apparel company, Fallen, sued Mickelson's team alleging copyright infringement in June 2023.

Mickelson's team were forced to make change in 2023

Last year also saw adidas file a lawsuit against LIV Golf alleging the breakaway Saudi golf league's logo incorporated 'three stripes in a manner that is confusingly similar to the adidas marks in appearance and overall commercial impression'.

There has been no further update made public about adidas' lawsuit against LIV Golf.

Johnson's adidas deal was terminated in early 2023.

DJ signed with LIV Golf for a fee in the region of $150m in 2022.

He also tore up his PGA Tour card.

Johnson, 40, has hinted in recent times he will likely quit competitive golf well before the age of 50 so that he can spend more time with his kids and wife Paulina Gretzky.