Sacred Names, Legal Games: Trademark Clashes in Christian Circles
Location: National, Interstate Disputes
Description:
Top trademark disputes over the last ten years for churches and christian organizations include issues due to expansion, similar town names, or even disgruntled attendees. Cases for these issues include: Mars Hill Church (Seattle) vs. Mars Hill Church (Sacramento) (2011–2015), Rochester University vs. University of Rochester (2023–2024), and Jews for Jesus vs. Steven Brodsky (2017–2018).
Mars Hill Church (Seattle) vs. Mars Hill Church (Sacramento) (2011–2015)
For the notable Mars Hill Church, it was an expanding ministry at the time, looking to move from the Seattle area to the other areas on the West Coast, which conflicted with Mars Hill Church of Sacramento that had absolutely no affiliation with the Mars Hill of Seattle. This dispute ended amicably, with Mars Hill of Sacramento agreeing to rebrand by changing their name to Real Life Church and the lawsuit dismissed. Ironically, this church no longer exists after the tragic downfall of its founder. The Church Law Podcast discusses this story further in Episode 14: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and What You Should Consider Before Changing Your Bylaws, with Guest Mike Cosper. This story was covered by Christianity Today HERE.
Rochester University vs. University of Rochester (2023–2024)
Rochester University v. University of Rochester showcases the disputes Christian educational institutions can have, simply because of multiple towns that hold the same name! In 2023, University of Rochester in New York filed a lawsuit against Rochester University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Neither university wished to go through the extensive legal process of a lawsuit and incur excessive fees, so the Michigan University changed its name to Rochester Christian University in 2024. To read more about this change, you can see the school’s website HERE.
Jews for Jesus vs. Steven Brodsky (2017–2018).
Finally, in Jews for Jesus lawsuit, Steven Brodsky was a former, disgruntled volunteer that faked a website to discourage group participation by using the groups logo and name. The lawsuit was filed in 2017, with a settlement in 2018 with Brodsky agreeing to cease operating the website. Read the case Jews for Jesus v. Steven C. Brodsky, 993 F. Supp. 282 (D.N.J. Mar. 6, 1998), HERE.
Impact:
Protect your doctrinal beliefs and community representation with trademarking.
Let visitors and those invited by your congregation confirm your pew is their destination they are hoping for.
Establish Church branding and promote your mission or vision.
This week on The Church Law Podcast, we’re tackling this topic head-on with a special episode: “Trademark 101 for Churches: Protecting Your Name and Mission.”
Join Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, and guest Nathan Adams Esq., a leading legal advisor to religious institutions, as they break down the essentials of trademarking for churches—from legal definitions to real risks, and what steps you can take right now to safeguard your ministry’s identity.
🎧 In This Episode You’ll Learn:
The difference between a trademark and a trade name
What legal protections state or IRS registration don’t provide
How churches unintentionally infringe on trademarks
Why legal protection is critical when growing an online presence
How trademarking aligns with good stewardship