IP Law Daily, TRADEMARK NEWS: ‘She The People’ founder Aimee Allison sues Netflix over trademark use, (May 21, 2025)

By Steven Melendez

Allison alleges the streamer and a film production company are infringing the "She The People" mark in planning a new TV series by that name.

Aimee Allison, the founder and president of She The People Storied, sued Netflix along with production company Tyler Vision LLC and actress Terry J. Vaughn, saying they're infringing on her SHE THE PEOPLE trademark by using the name for a new streaming series (Allison v. Vaughn, No. 2:25-cv-04476 (C.D. Cal. May 19, 2025)).

Allison's She The People Storied c/o PowerPac Foundation (“STP”) promotes the role of women of color in politics and culture. She holds multiple trademark registrations for the SHE THE PEOPLE mark, including for "Providing information, news, and commentary in the field of politics; Providing a website featuring information about political issues" and "On-line journals, namely, blogs featuring information about politics; Educational services, namely, conducting conferences in the field of politics," as well as "Downloadable podcasts in the field of politics; Production of podcasts."

Allison has continuously used the SHE THE PEOPLE mark since at least 2018, including putting on a national SHE THE PEOPLE summit in September 2018 that drew major politicians to San Francisco. In 2019, she held a SHE THE PEOPLE Presidential Forum at Texas Southern University which drew Democratic candidates including Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Bernie Sanders, receiving national coverage in outlets like MSNBC, NPR, and Politico, according to her complaint in the case.

Allison also has published op-eds where she was identified as the founder and president of She the People and she runs a political podcast under the same name, according to the complaint.

"Relevant consumers closely associate the SHE THE PEOPLE mark with Ms. Allison’s work, and recognize the mark as her distinctive and influential brand," according to the complaint. "Ms. Allison’s writings, commentary, and advocacy under the mark have been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Black Entertainment Television, The Grio, Newsweek, Politico, Essence, Teen Vogue, Essence, Democracy Journal, and many more."

In 2020, Allison and She the People began working with a company called Nina Holiday Entertainment Inc. to produce a documentary, working with Vaughn, one of the company's leaders. Subsequently, Allison alleges, she learned that Vaughn and production company Tyler Vision were working on a Netflix series called "She The People," about a fictional Black lieutenant governor of Mississippi. The series is currently being promoted on Netflix and is slated to be released May 22, according to the complaint.

"The Series echoes many of the same themes regarding Black women’s experiences in politics that Ms. Allison addresses through her activism under the SHE THE PEOPLE mark, albeit in a slightly different format," according to the complaint.

And on September 28, 2024, Tyler Vision filed its own application to register the SHE THE PEOPLE mark in the area of “Entertainment services in the nature of a television series in the field of drama; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing series featuring live action drama and comedy provided through broadcast, cable, and satellite television, and via the internet.”

Allison alleges the series and services claimed in that application “Entertainment services in the nature of a television series in the field of drama; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing series featuring live action drama and comedy provided through broadcast, cable, and satellite television, and via the internet" and "are likely to appeal to an overlapping audience—those interested in the issues facing women of color in American politics."

Allison asserts claims for federal trademark infringement, California unfair competition, common law passing off and unfair competition, and false designation of origin, as well as claims of contributory trademark infringement against Vaughn and Tyler Vision, alleging they induced Netflix to infringe the trademark. Allison is seeking a court order barring the use of the SHE THE PEOPLE MARK, an order for Tyler Vision to "abandon or cancel" its trademark application, as well as damages, costs, and fees.

The Case is No. 2:25-cv-04476.

Attorneys: Naomi Jane Gray (Shades of Gray Law Group P.C.) for Aimee Allison.

Companies: Tyler Vision, LLC; Netflix, Inc.

News: Trademark CaliforniaNews