The company that controls the Golden Globes has taken the Golden Globe Foundation to federal court, arguing that the nonprofit is using the awards brand in ways that blur the line between a commercial ceremony and a grant-giving charity.
The four-claim complaint was filed September 30 and alleges trademark infringement and unfair competition. The Golden Globes is asking for an injunction that would stop the foundation from using the mark, plus unspecified damages. At the center is a shared name: the foundation was created in 2023 as part of the same deal that sold the awards to Penske Media Corporation and Todd Boehly’s Eldridge.
According to the filing, the foundation has moved beyond its original charitable mission into events, auctions, merchandise and publishing—activities the Globes says are close enough to its own business to create consumer confusion. The complaint also says the foundation rejected a 2025 cease-and-desist letter and cut off licensing negotiations in July, when Raffi Boghosian took over as foundation board head.
The wider legal tangle
This is not the only courtroom fight around the ceremony. Two months earlier, the remnants of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association sued Penske Media over its part in Dick Clark Productions’ 2023 purchase of the Golden Globes, alleging monopolization and fraudulent misrepresentation.
The new complaint links the two battles. It claims there is a broader pattern of coordination between the foundation and the HFPA, and alleges that a possible settlement between them could move charitable funds to the HFPA to help finance its lawsuit. That allegation, if proven, would turn the trademark fight into something bigger than a naming dispute.
The foundation’s response
Golden Globe Foundation spokesman Nate Miller rejected that characterisation. He said the owner once promoted the foundation’s name and publicly thanked Penske Media’s Robb Report for supporting it. At its first grants dinner, the foundation gave $5 million to 96 organisations.
- The foundation was created in the same 2023 sale that transferred the awards show.
- It says its work supports schools and press freedom.
- Miller called the suit
a transparent attempt to pressure the Foundation
.
Why it matters now
For media planners and entertainment marketers, the dispute is a reminder that an awards brand is not only a telecast; it is a trademark portfolio with sponsorship, licensing and merchandising value. Confusion over who can use the mark in events or auctions can affect charity tie-ins and the perceived integrity of sponsor assets.
The timing matters too. The submission deadline for the 2027 Golden Globes is October 30, and the ceremony airs January 10 on CBS and Paramount+ with Nikki Glaser returning as host for a third time. Legal uncertainty around the brand lands just as studios and streamers are setting awards-campaign budgets and media plans.
Source: Deadline
