The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has initiated legal action against Prime Hydration, an energy drink brand associated with YouTuber Logan Paul, alleging trademark infringement just days ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a federal lawsuit filed in the District of Colorado on Friday, the committee accuses Prime Hydration of unlawfully using trademarked phrases such as “OLYMPIC,” “OLYMPIAN,” “TEAM USA,” and “GOING FOR GOLD” on its product packaging and in online advertisements. Specifically, the lawsuit points to advertisements on online platforms describing the product as the “Team USA Kevin Durant Drink” and the “Kevin Durant Olympic Prime Drink,” as part of a collaboration with NBA star Kevin Durant.
According to the lawsuit, the USOPC contends that Prime Hydration’s actions have been deliberate and in bad faith, aimed at leveraging the goodwill associated with the Olympic and Paralympic brands. The committee asserts that such unauthorized use has caused significant damage and irreparable injury to its reputation and sponsorship agreements.
The USOPC, responsible for supporting American athletes through funding and training, relies heavily on licensing its trademarks to finance Team USA operations, as it does not receive federal government financial support. The lawsuit argues that unauthorized use of these trademarks can mislead the public and allow a company to profit from association with the Olympics without official endorsement.
Legal correspondence cited in the lawsuit indicates that the USOPC notified Prime Hydration on July 10 to cease infringement. However, the lawsuit claims that the company continued to distribute the product and did not promptly remove social media posts promoting it following the notification.
As of Sunday, several social media posts referenced in the lawsuit had reportedly been removed from Prime Hydration’s platforms, and the product was no longer featured on the company’s website.
Prime, launched by Logan Paul in collaboration with fellow YouTube personality KSI in 2022, has faced scrutiny in the past. Last year, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for an FDA investigation into the brand after concerns arose over the popularity of its energy drinks among minors, despite being marketed for adults. Health experts and lawmakers raised alarms about potential health risks associated with the drinks’ high caffeine content.
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While Prime Hydration, a separate line from Prime Energy drinks, does not contain caffeine, the latter has drawn attention for its high caffeine levels — equivalent to approximately six cans of Coca-Cola or nearly two cans of Red Bull per serving.
Additionally, Prime faced a class-action lawsuit alleging the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a discontinued flavor of Prime Hydration, chemicals known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. Logan Paul refuted these claims earlier this year in a now-deleted TikTok video.
In its lawsuit, the USOPC seeks compensation for all profits linked to the sale of the allegedly infringing drink, which it estimates to be in the millions of dollars, as well as damages for harm caused to its sponsorship agreements. Representatives for the USOPC, Prime Hydration, and Logan Paul did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the matter.
