Conservative comedian and commentator Steven Crowder has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against CNN and Jubilee, claiming that their recent town hall with James Talarico was an unauthorized use of his “Change My Mind” format.
In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, TX, Crowder’s LWC IP claimed that the Oct. 14 town hall “appropriated” his series, in which he sits at a table on college campuses with banners that display topics like, “I’m Pro-Gun. Change My Mind.” The series features debates with figures with alternative views.
The CNN/Jubilee town hall featured Talarico answering questions from moderator Erin Burnett and audience members, as well as a portion of the event where he sat and conversed with Texans who didn’t share his views. The lawsuit claimed that the format was “intentionally modeled after LWC’s ‘Chnage My Mind’ series.” The suit included screenshots of the event featuring the phrase “Change My Mind.”
The lawsuit also claimed trademark counterfeit and trademark dilution. It seeks an injunction prohibiting the use of the trademark, as well as unspecified damages.
“In a nationally televised town hall, Defendants appropriated LWC IP’s mark and signature format to leverage the goodwill and credibility Steven Crowder and Louder with Crowder have cultivated among conservative and Republican audiences over nearly a decade. Defendants did so in the midst of a closely watched Texas Senate race, seeking to benefit from the public association between the Mark and conservative political discourse while creating a likelihood that viewers would perceive endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation where none existed.”
Spokespersons for CNN and Jubilee did not immediately return requests for comment.