MPower MD sues MPower Fitness over alleged MPOWER branding at a Nashville fitness studio

What was filed

The case is MPower MD, LLC v. MPower Fitness, LLC, No. 3:26-cv-01733 (M.D. Tenn., Nashville Division), filed November 4, 2026, ECF No. 1 (10 pages), with a jury demand. The complaint describes MPower MD, LLC as a Tennessee limited liability company based in Nashville, Tennessee, that has operated clinics in Nashville since 2014 and now runs four Nashville-area clinics under the MPOWER service mark offering physical therapy, hand therapy, massage therapy, sports therapy, personal training, and nutrition services. It describes MPower Fitness, LLC as an Alabama limited liability company based in Birmingham, Alabama, that operates Birmingham-area fitness studios under MPOWER or MPOWER FITNESS and, since on or about June 1, 2025, has operated or licensed the operation of a Nashville fitness studio under the formal name MPOWER NASHVILLE + A LAGREE STUDIO. The docket assigns the case to Judge William L. Campbell Jr. and refers it to Magistrate Judge Jeffery S. Frensley. It shows a summons issued November 4, 2026, an initial case management conference by telephone set for March 9, 2027, and a waiver of service returned executed, with the waiver sent to MPower Fitness on November 4, 2026.

The marks

USPTO TSDR shows five live Principal Register registrations owned by MPower MD, LLC. Four are standard-character marks filed January 9, 2019: MPOWER TRAINING, U.S. Reg. No. 6,054,269 (registered May 12, 2020), for sports training services and providing facilities for sports training in Class 41; MPOWER NUTRITION, U.S. Reg. No. 6,054,268 (registered May 12, 2020), for nutrition counseling and related nutrition services in Class 44; MPOWER THERAPY, U.S. Reg. No. 6,054,267 (registered May 12, 2020), for massage, physical therapy, physical rehabilitation, and physiotherapy services in Class 44; and MPOWER SPORTS MEDICINE, U.S. Reg. No. 6,131,095 (registered August 18, 2020), for sports medicine services in Class 44. TSDR records a combined Section 8 and 15 declaration accepted and acknowledged for each of those four. The fifth, MPOWER PHYSICAL THERAPY with a lightning symbol over the O, U.S. Reg. No. 6,956,355 (filed December 23, 2021, registered January 17, 2023), covers personal fitness training, personal trainer, and physical fitness consultation services in Class 41 and massage, physical therapy, nutrition counseling, and sports medicine services in Class 44.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint alleges that MPower Fitness was formed in 2016 and, on information and belief, has operated Birmingham fitness studios offering pilates or lagree classes under MPOWER or MPOWER FITNESS since about 2016. It alleges that MPower MD learned in May 2025 of plans for a Nashville studio and, on information or belief, that the studio opened on or about May 31, 2025. It alleges that although the studio is formally named MPOWER NASHVILLE + A LAGREE STUDIO, MPower Fitness often presents it as MPOWER alone, including as the avatar on the studio's Instagram and Facebook pages, and as MPOWER or MPOWER NASHVILLE on its booking webpage, which offers personal training and pilates. It alleges that this use is confusingly similar to MPower MD's registered marks, especially MPOWER TRAINING and the MPOWER PHYSICAL THERAPY design mark, that the studio is about four miles from one MPower MD clinic and six miles from another, and that consumer reviews often call the studio MPOWER. It alleges that MPower MD notified MPower Fitness, through its registered agent, on or about May 27, 2025 of its Nashville business and registrations, and that the matter has not been resolved.

Claims and relief

Count I is trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1). Count II is unfair competition and false designation of origin under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a). The prayer seeks an injunction against further infringement and unfair competition, a judgment for damages including MPower Fitness's profits and any damages MPower MD sustained, costs, treble damages according to the circumstances of the case, reasonable attorney fees under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a), a jury trial, and other relief. Within the counts, MPower MD also asks for damages to cover corrective advertising, and Count II asks for an injunction at least as to use in Nashville.