T.I. was ordered by a federal judge to stop using the title “Situationships” for his film after a trademark clash.
T.I. lost a major legal battle in New York where a federal judge barred him and his company Grand Hustle Films from using the title “Situationships” for their upcoming movie after a trademark dispute with another production company.
The ruling came after Featherstone Entertainment, founded by Cylla Senii, sued the rapper’s company over the use of the word “Situationships,” which it trademarked in 2023. Featherstone has used the name since 2015 for a web series, book and screenplay focused on modern dating.
According to court documents, T.I. and Grand Hustle Films moved forward with the project using the title in casting calls, interviews and production materials.
The company also attempted to register variations like “Battle of the Situationships” and “City of Situationships,” but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected at least one application due to its similarity to Featherstone’s registered mark.
Featherstone said it tried to resolve the issue privately. The company met with Grand Hustle Films multiple times and claims the studio agreed to change the name.
But despite those discussions, Grand Hustle kept filing new trademark applications using the word “Situationships.” After receiving no response to a cease-and-desist letter, Featherstone filed suit.
The judge sided with Featherstone, ruling the company is likely to succeed in its trademark claim and would suffer harm if Grand Hustle Films continued using the name. The court issued an injunction stopping T.I. and his team from producing, promoting or distributing any content using “Situationships” or similar terms.
The order also requires Grand Hustle Films to scrub the name from all promotional materials, websites and products. They must also preserve all documents related to the project.
T.I. responded by saying the title was never finalized and has not used the mark SITUATIONSHIPS within the last several months.
The case remains active, but for now, Grand Hustle Films is legally blocked from using the disputed name while the lawsuit plays out.
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