Lady Gaga’s new album, MAYHEM, and related branded merchandise are causing, well, mayhem.

At issue? The pop singer’s “Mayhem” logo.

Lost International, a California-based surfboard and surfwear brand, has slapped Lady Gaga with a lawsuit that asks for a minimum of $100 million in damages, saying the singer, whose legal name is Stefani Germanotta, ripped off Lost’s “Mayhem” logo.

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, aka Lady Gaga

Alleging trademark infringement and related offenses, Lost is asking a federal judge in California to permanently prevent Lady Gaga from using the logo. The brand is also demanding that she fork over profits related to gains she’s made through the use of the trademark. The logo appears on everything from Lady Gaga’s album to branded merchandise that hypes it, including T-shirts and sweatshirts.

“Defendants’ infringement of Lost’s mark and other unlawful conduct … has caused, and continues to cause, Lost grave and irreparable damages,” the lawsuit said. “The court must grant Lost all remedies that it seeks.”

These images from the Lost lawsuit display a comparison of the Lost “Mayhem” logo and the Lady Gaga “Mayhem” logo. Lost alleges trademark infringement.

According to the suit, Lost has been using the “Mayhem” mark since 1988 in connection with surfboards, surf equipment, clothing, accessories and surf videos. Mayhem is the nickname of Matt Biolos, one of the co-founders of Lost. Lost holds, according to its attorneys, a trademark on “Mayhem” that goes back to 2015.

Lost’s attorneys said they contacted Lady Gaga and co. about inappropriately using the logo but were met with radio silence. “Despite a notice from Lost’s counsel, Lady Gaga has failed and refused, and continues to fail and refuse, to cease her willful and blatant infringing on the registered mark and thus she must immediately be enjoined from this behavior,” said the suit.

Gaga’s lawyers provided a statement to Fox News that said the suit was, essentially, balderdash.

“Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM soared to No. 1 and shattered records, a testament to her unmatched talent and global impact,” her attorney, Orin Snyder, said in the statement. “It’s disappointing – but hardly surprising – that someone is now attempting to capitalize on her success with a baseless lawsuit over the name ‘Mayhem.’ This is nothing more than an opportunistic and meritless abuse of the legal system.”

Released March 7, Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with 219,000 equivalent album units, including 136,000 pure album sales and 80,500 from streaming, marking the biggest debut for a female artist in 2025. Lost filed its suit March 25.

Trademark cases, especially those involving logos, graphics and branded merchandise, can be of note to print and promotional products pros. Seeing how the court rules in the Gaga case, should it come to trial as Lost requests, could prove edifying. Other recent trademark cases that have caught promo’s attention include ones involving Penn State; Stanley drinkware; Yeti and the NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken; Trader Joe’s; and NBA star Victor Wembanyama, among many others.

Trademark pros have filled ASI Media in on strategies for avoiding trademark infringement – and what to do if your marks have been infringed upon. One tip to avoid infringement? Engage in a trademark search in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS).

“By entering prospective marks of interest in TESS, business owners can identify and eliminate
highly similar marks from their shortlist,” said Derrick Davis, a trademark attorney, “which
ultimately saves time and money in any legal fees to be incurred.”