Oprahdemics launched in March 2022 and the first season featured 15 episodes. The brand’s logo also features key art that includes a large “O” and the outstretched arms of a woman. In addition, Jackson and Rigueur run various social media platforms and oprahdemics.com.

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The co-hosts have also promoted the show on major airways including, Good Morning America, and have earned profits through ticket sales for a live event in New York. The complaint also states Harpo. Inc has asked the pair to change the brand and logo, but there has been inaction.

“Defendants’ use of the OPRAHDEMICS trademark and OPRAHDEMICS O Logo is not authorized by Harpo and was undertaken in bad faith by virtue of their intent to exploit the goodwill and reputation of Harpo’s trademarks and create confusion as to the source, sponsorship and/or affiliation of the service and/or goods provided under the OPRAHDEMICS trademark and OPRAHDEMICS O Logo,” court documents read. “Upon information and belief, Defendants Jackson and Rigueur have also acted in bad faith by attempting to capitalize on the goodwill and reputation of Harpo’s trademarks to raise their own personal and professional brands.”

For these reasons, among others, Jackson and Rigueur are being brought to court.

Fortunately, Harpo Inc. is not seeking monetary reparations for Jackson’s and Rigueur’s involvement and attempts to capitalize on Winfrey’s image.

“Harpo does not seek monetary damages or profits available under applicable law from Defendants’ wrongful acts of building a media and entertainment brand by capitalizing on the goodwill of the OPRAH and O family of trademarks. Nor does Harpo seek to prohibit Defendants from airing a podcast series on their chosen topic,” the claim read. “However, Harpo submits that the Court should enjoin Defendants from wrongfully creating a new brand incorporating Harpo’s trademarks and making trademark use which is dilutive of and constitutes misuse of Harpo’s OPRAH and O family of trademarks and explicitly misleads consumers as to the source and/or sponsorship of Defendants’ branded offerings.”

Kellie Carter Jackson

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