Medieval Times Successfully Defends Trademark in Lawsuit Against Union

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that Medieval Times brought against its workers union last year accusing the group of trademark violations over its name and logo.

In an opinion issued Thursday, the judge said the dinner theater chain failed to demonstrate that the union, called Medieval Times Performers United, was creating “confusion” among consumers and leading people to believe the labor group was somehow endorsed by the company.

“The Court concludes there is no plausible likelihood of confusion,” wrote Judge William J. Martini of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

The company’s lawsuit against the workers union, Medieval Times Performers United, has been dismissed by a federal judge. The judge stated that there was no evidence of confusion among consumers and that the union’s name and logo did not imply any endorsement from the company. This case was widely mocked by union supporters on social media last year, with the union accusing Medieval Times of attempting to silence them through litigation. The unfair labor practice charge filed by the union with the National Labor Relations Board still stands.

Medieval Times claimed that the union had copied its medieval-themed imagery and devalued its brand. However, the judge found that there were significant differences between the logos of the two parties, and consumers were unlikely to confuse the union with the company. The lawsuit is part of an ongoing battle between Medieval Times and its workers union, who are advocating for higher wages and better safety standards.

The knights, squires, actors, and stablehands at Medieval Times’ New Jersey and California locations have united under the name Medieval Times Performers United. They are represented by the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), which also represents well-known groups such as the Radio City Rockettes and Disneyland performers. The AGVA accused Medieval Times of using the lawsuit as a means to retaliate against workers for exercising their right to form a union and bargain collectively.

Workers at the New Jersey and California locations are currently negotiating their first contracts with Medieval Times. The workers at the California location have been on strike since February, alleging retaliation and unfair labor practices by the company. While the trademark lawsuit was dismissed, Medieval Times was successful in getting the union’s TikTok account shut down through an intellectual property complaint. The NLRB has recently filed a complaint against Medieval Times, accusing the company of violating labor law by attempting to silence its employees.