Pharrell Williams is suing t-shirt company Spreadshirt for $14 million, accusing the online print-on-demand platform of selling fake Billionaire Boys Club (BBC) merchandise and cashing in on his brand without permission.
According to AllHipHop, the lawsuit, filed by BBC Ice Cream LLC, claims that Spreadshirt allowed unauthorized sellers to upload knockoff BBC designs, then printed, packaged, and shipped the merchandise while disguising its role in the operation.
“[Spreadshirt’s] conduct continues unabated, and the manufacture, publishing, advertising for sale, and sales of counterfeit and infringing Products persist,” said Richard J. Pocker, attorney for Williams. “BBC brings this action to put a stop to this ongoing unlawful conduct and to hold [Spreadshirt] accountable for their actions.”
The suit states that Spreadshirt is not just a passive service provider but an active partner in the alleged counterfeiting. The company reportedly used “white-label” packaging to hide its involvement and did little to prevent or report trademark infringement.
BBC accuses Spreadshirt of violating federal trademark laws, including trademark dilution, counterfeiting, and false designation of origin. The brand is seeking injunctive relief, punitive and compensatory damages, and attorney fees.
Billionaire Boys Club, founded in 2003 by Pharrell and designer Nigo, blends streetwear with luxury and skate culture. The brand has made waves through collaborations with the Yankees and NBA All-Star Weekend, appearances in Pharrell’s videos, and international partnerships with retailers like Nordstrom and Ssense.
Most recently, the brand was featured in the LEGO documentary “Piece by Piece,” highlighting Pharrell’s life and career.
