City of Pompano Beach Sues Resident Over “Pompano Bitch” Brand
The City of Pompano Beach, Florida, has filed a trademark lawsuit against a local resident, alleging that his clothing line unlawfully mimics the City’s branding.
According to the complaint, resident Jason Dickman has been selling hats, T-shirts, tumblers, decals, and other merchandise under the name “Pompano Bitch.”
The City claims that Dickman’s logo is “nearly identical” to its official design, except for the altered wording, and that his slogan, “Florida’s Saltiest Welcome,” is also an infringement of Pompano Beach’s long-standing tagline, “Florida’s Warmest Welcome.”
The City of Pompano Beach’s Trademark Registrations
Pompano Beach says it has used its current logo since at least 2011, investing significant resources to promote its name and image both in Florida and nationwide. City attorneys allege that Dickman’s use of a lookalike logo is a deliberate attempt to damage the city’s goodwill and mislead consumers into believing his products are affiliated with the municipality.
The lawsuit also notes that Dickman attempted to sell his merchandise at city-sponsored events. On November 26, 2024, the City sent him a cease-and-desist letter by email and certified mail, but says it received no response.
Who likely wins the case?
The City faces an uphill battle in trying to stop Dickman’s use of the phrase “Pompano Bitch.”
The name itself, that kind of tongue-in-cheek play on words, isn’t likely to be considered trademark infringement.
That said, where Dickman crossed the line is by lifting the city’s exact logo and applying it to his products. That’s what makes this case viable for the City.
Pompano Beach’s logo & tagline
Defendant’s logo & tagline
If Dickman were to drop the use of the city’s logo but continue selling products under the “Pompano Bitch” brand with his slogan, the City would struggle to block that type of use.
Therefore, the most obvious resolution of this case is a settlement in which Dickman agrees to stop using the City’s logo while retaining the brand name and “salty” tagline.
As much as they might want to, the City of Pompano Beach can’t stop people from making fun of them…but they can enforce their rights in a federally registered logo.
Josh Gerben, Esq.
Josh Gerben, Esq. is a nationally recognized trademark attorney and the founder of Gerben IP. Since launching the firm in 2008, he has overseen the registration of over 10,000 trademarks and handled over 1,500 trademark disputes. Josh's practice focuses on building and defending global trademark portfolios for clients. These clients include entrepreneurs, private equity-backed businesses, athletes, celebrities, and public companies. Frequently quoted by major media outlets like CNBC, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, Josh is widely regarded as a leading authority in trademark law.
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