Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-25-512 (2026)

Infringement

✓ current as of May 2026

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Subject to § 47-25-516, any person who does the following is liable in a civil action by the registrant for any and all of the remedies provided in § 47-25-514, except that under subdivision (2), the registrant is not entitled to recover profits or damages unless the acts have been committed with the intent to cause confusion, mistake, or deception:

(1) Uses, without the consent of the registrant, any reproduction, counterfeit, copy, or colorable imitation of a mark registered under this part in connection with the sale, distribution, offering for sale, or advertising of any goods or services on or in connection with which such use is likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception as to the source of origin of such goods or services;

(2) Reproduces, counterfeits, copies, or colorably imitates any such mark and applies such reproduction, counterfeit, copy or colorable imitation to labels, signs, prints, packages, wrappers, receptacles, or advertisements intended to be used upon or in connection with the sale or other distribution in this state of such goods or services;

(3) Uses the trade name or trademark, or a confusingly similar trade name or trademark, of any bank, savings and loan association, savings bank or subsidiary or affiliate of any bank, saving and loan association, saving bank or subsidiary in a solicitation for the offering of services or products if such use is likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception as to the source of origin, affiliation or sponsorship of such products or services; or, uses the trade name or trademark, or confusingly similar trade name or trademark, of any bank, savings and loan association, savings bank or subsidiary or affiliate of any bank, saving and loan association, saving bank or subsidiary in any manner in a solicitation for the offering of services or products, unless the solicitation clearly and conspicuously states the following in bold-face type on the front page of the solicitation:
- (A) The name, address and telephone number of the person making the solicitation;
- (B) A statement that the person making the solicitation is not affiliated with the bank, savings and loan association, savings bank or subsidiary or affiliate of any bank, saving and loan association, saving bank or subsidiary; and
- (C) A statement that the solicitation is not authorized or sponsored by the bank, savings and loan association, savings bank or subsidiary or affiliate of any bank, saving and loan association, saving bank or subsidiary;

(4) Uses the trade name or trademark, or a confusingly similar trade name or trademark of any place of entertainment, or the name of any event, person, or entity scheduled to perform at a place of entertainment in the domain of a ticket marketplace URL. It is not a violation of this subdivision (4) if the ticket marketplace obtained written authorization from the place of entertainment, event, person, or entity scheduled to perform at a place of entertainment to use the trade name, trademark, or name in the domain of the URL prior to the use. For purposes of this subdivision (4):
- (A) "Domain" means the portion of text in a URL that is to the left of the top-level domains such as .com, .net, or .org;
- (B) "Place of entertainment" means an entertainment facility in this state, such as a theater, stadium, museum, arena, amphitheater, racetrack, or other place where performances, concerts, exhibits, games, athletic events, or contests are held;
- (C) "Ticket" means a printed, electronic, or other type of evidence of the right, option, or opportunity to occupy space at, to enter, or to attend a place of entertainment, even if not evidenced by any physical manifestation of the right, option, or opportunity; and
- (D) "Ticket marketplace" means a website that provides a forum for or facilitates the buying and selling, or reselling, of a ticket; or

(5) Uses or displays any combination of text, images, website graphics, website display, or website addresses that are substantially similar to the website of an operator with the intent to mislead a potential purchaser, without written authorization. For purposes of this subdivision (5):
- (A) "Operator" means an individual, firm, corporation, or other entity, or an agent of such individual, firm, corporation, or other entity that:
  - (i) Owns, operates, or controls a place of entertainment or that promotes or produces a performance, concert, exhibit, game, athletic event, or contest; and
  - (ii) Offers for sale a first sale ticket to the place of entertainment or performance, concert, exhibit, game, athletic event, or contest; and
- (B) "Place of entertainment" means an entertainment facility in this state, such as a theater, stadium, museum, arena, amphitheater, racetrack, or other place where performances, concerts, exhibits, games, athletic events, or contests are held.

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 474, s 4, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 930, s 3, eff. 5/15/2018.

Acts 1982, ch. 698, § 12; T.C.A., §§ 69-540, 47-25-432, 47-25-511; Acts 2000, ch. 671, § 1; 2003 , ch. 31, § 5; 2011 , ch. 89, § 4.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1986–2023 · leading case: Kellogg Co. v. Exxon Mobil Corp., 192 F. Supp. 2d 790 (W.D. Tenn. 2001).

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Kellogg Co. v. Exxon Mobil Corp., 192 F. Supp. 2d 790 (W.D. Tenn. 2001). · cites it 6× “, Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-25-512 (2000), repealed by Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000, ch, 671, § 3 (“Likelihood of .”

Wynn Oil Co. & Classic Car Wash, Inc. v. Michael F. Thomas, 839 F.2d 1183 (6th Cir. 1988). “Finally, Wynn and COWl appeal the District Court's holding that Thomas did not violate the Tennessee Anti-Dilution Statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-25-512 . While we disagree with the District Court's reasoning, we AFFIRM the District Court's dismissal of this count because the…”

Wynn Oil Co. v. Thomas, 669 F. Supp. 831 (M.D. Tenn. 1986). · cites it 4× “§ 1125 (a); trademark dilution and injury to business reputation under T.C.A. § 47-25-512; violation of Ten *833 nessee Consumer Protection Act under T.”

W & G Tennessee Imports, Inc. v. Esselte Pendaflex Corp., 769 F. Supp. 264 (M.D. Tenn. 1991). · cites it 2× “In its answer Esselte brought counterclaims against Tennessee Imports for trademark infringement under Section 32(1) of the Lanham Act, for false designation of origin under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act, for dilution under Section 47-25-512 of the Tennessee state code, and…”

Kremer v. Reddit, Inc. (M.D. Tenn. 2022). · cites it 3× “) The Court will construe Kremer’s complaint as requesting relief under only § 47-25-512 of the Tennessee Trademark Act of 2000 (Trademark Act).”

Kremer v. WalMart, Inc. (M.D. Tenn. 2023). · cites it 2× “Based on these events, Kremer alleges violations of Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-25-512 , Tenn. Code Ann.”

Thunder Roads Magazine/Thunder Publ'g, LLC v. Smith (M.D. Tenn. 2023). · cites it 2× “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-25-512 . “The Trademark Act stipulates that cases interpreting the Lanham Act are persuasive authority for use in interpreting the Trademark Act.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-25-512(1) — 1 case

Kremer v. Reddit, Inc. (M.D. Tenn. 2022). “) The Court will construe Kremer’s complaint as requesting relief under only § 47-25-512 of the Tennessee Trademark Act of 2000 (Trademark Act).”

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