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Pudgy Penguins Sued For Trademark Infringement

The iconic NFT brand, entirely based around penguin-themed intellectual property, has been taken to court by Penguin apparel.
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Mar 5, 2026 • 1 min read

Pudgy Penguins are getting sued by PEI Licensing, who alleges the NFT brand has committed trademark infringement by selling clothing labeled with confusingly similar terms.

What's the Scoop?

  • Brand Expansion: Originally a blockchain-based NFT collection, under the leadership of CEO Luca Netz, Pudgy Penguins Inc. has increasingly moved into physically merchandising its brand intellectual property (IP). Its plush toy and apparel lines have achieved distribution space in leading brick-and-mortar retailers, such as Walmart.
  • Recent Lawsuit: PEI Licensing, owner of the Original Penguin apparel brand, has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Pudgy Penguins Inc., alleging the NFT brand has diluted its trademarks (including "Penguin" and "Original Penguin") by selling clothing that uses confusingly similar trademarks. According to its complaint, PEI Licensing sent Pudgy Penguins a cease-and-desist in October 2023, which was ignored.

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