Legends FC sues Legends Soccer Club over LEGENDS FC marks in youth soccer

The complaint

Legends FC, Inc. v. Legends Soccer Club, No. 2:26-cv-13127 (C.D. Cal.), is an 11-page complaint filed November 9, 2026, with a jury demand. Legends FC, Inc. is a California corporation based in Norco, California. The defendant is captioned as a California nonprofit corporation. The complaint says Legends FC is informed, and based thereon alleges, that the defendant has its principal address in Antelope, California.

The marks

The complaint asserts two United States registrations, which it calls incontestable, together with common-law rights, as the Legends Marks. USPTO TSDR shows Registration No. 4,574,602, LEGENDS FC in standard characters, as live on the Principal Register, registered July 29, 2014, owned by LEGENDS FC, INC., and renewed, for "Club services, namely, promoting the interests of a youth soccer club which competes locally, regionally, nationally and internationally" in Class 35. TSDR shows Registration No. 4,574,604, a LEGENDS FC design, as live on the Principal Register, registered July 29, 2014, owned by LEGENDS FC, INC., and renewed, for "Club services, namely, promoting the interests of a youth soccer through competition in local, regional, national and international competition" in Class 35. For each registration, TSDR lists a Section 8 declaration accepted and a Section 15 declaration acknowledged on October 12, 2019. TSDR describes that design as the stylized wording "Legends FC" overlaid over a striped shield with black and yellow bands and a soccer ball, and it claims the colors black, yellow, and white.

The alleged use

The complaint alleges that the defendant has been marketing, promoting, and selling services under marks it describes as identical or very similar to the Legends Marks, including LEGENDS, LEGENDS SC, and a design. It says the defendant uses those marks in advertising and promotional materials, on jerseys and other apparel, on the website legendssoccerclub.net, and on social media, including as part of social media handles, and that at times the defendant drops SC and refers to itself as Legends. It alleges the use has been without consent. It says it is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that the defendant's use began well after Legends FC acquired rights in the Legends Marks. It alleges, upon information and belief, that the defendant's services are identical to Legends FC's, namely the organization and administration of youth soccer programs and teams. It says it is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that teams associated with both parties play in the same events and tournaments and are members of the same organizations.

The complaint says both sets of marks include the dominant word LEGENDS, and that the distinction between FC and SC is meaningless because the acronyms stand for Football Club and Soccer Club, which it calls synonymous in this context. It says the defendant's design is in the same general shape as Legends FC's design and bears the word LEGENDS in all capital letters on a curved banner at the top. It cites what it describes as actual confusion, including misdirected player signups or tryout requests, misdirected emails, and confusion about event participation and promotion. It says counsel contacted the defendant on July 29, 2026 and demanded that it cease use, that the defendant refused, and that the use is ongoing. It says it is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that the use is being done to cause consumers to believe the defendant is associated with Legends FC, and that the defendant had actual and constructive notice of Legends FC's prior rights and willfully infringed them.

The claims and the prayer

Count I pleads trademark infringement and unfair competition under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114 and 1125. Count II pleads common-law trademark infringement. The complaint asks the court to find that the defendant has infringed trademark rights under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114 and 1125 and the common law; to enjoin the defendant and those acting with it from selling, distributing, advertising, or publicizing products or services under marks identical or confusingly similar to the Legends Marks, from falsely implying endorsement or affiliation, and from assisting others in that conduct; to require delivery for destruction of collateral featuring the accused marks, as permitted under 15 U.S.C. § 1118; to award damages under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114, 1116, 1117(a), 1117(c), and 1125; to award three times the amount of damages and increased profits under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(b); and to award costs, expenses, reasonable attorneys' fees, pre-judgment interest, and other just relief.