Two Christian Media Ministries Clash Over ‘Hope’ Trademark

Lawsuits in Florida and Texas raise questions over trademark rights.

A federal lawsuit between two Christian media ministries — both carrying the name “Hope” — is raising questions about the registration and assignment of a trademark.

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Hope Channel International has sued Hope Media Group, which operates WayFM, KSBJ, and other radio ministries, for trademark infringement and unfair competition over the latter’s use of marks that are “confusingly similar” to those previously registered to Hope Channel.

The lawsuit, filed by Hope Channel in May in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that Hope Media Group’s use of the marks violates the Federal Trademark Act and Florida common law on unfair competition.

Hope Channel is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, an injunction, cancellation of Hope Media Group’s trademark registration, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

Founded as a broadcast television network in 2003 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Hope Channel claims it began using the “inherently distinctive” Hope Channel mark that same year and filed a trademark registration. It continues to use the mark in its broadcasting and productions and in connection with Hope Sabbath School.

Hope Channel claims consumers have come to recognize and associate the mark with its goods and services, and that the ministry has “developed extensive and valuable goodwill” tied to the mark.

Hope Media Group changed its name from KSBJ Educational Foundation in 2020, the lawsuit alleges, then merged with WayFM in 2022.

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Even though Hope Media Group was made aware of Hope Channel’s registration and rights to the mark in 2019, it has since adopted several marks for its services that are “highly similar” to Hope Channel’s, the lawsuit alleges.

Because the two ministries’ services are “virtually identical” and offered to the same types of consumers, Hope Channel alleges that Hope Media Group is intentionally “trad[ing] off the goodwill and consumer recognition associated with the plaintiff, Hope Channel.”

Hope Channel also claims the use of the mark is “likely to confuse, deceive, or mislead consumers.”

Hope Media Group’s Response

Hope Media Group has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming that Hope Channel “relies on conclusory assertions of similarity between marks that are dissimilar on their face, conflates distinct marks and services, and seeks to extend a single television-broadcasting registration for Hope Channel into radio, digital media, charitable fundraising, ministry, events, and other services without plausible factual support.”

Hope Media Group also asked the court to transfer the lawsuit to the Southern District of Texas, where its headquarters is located.

In June, Hope Media Group filed its own lawsuit against Hope Channel in federal court in Texas, seeking a declaration that its use of the marks does not infringe on Hope Channel’s marks or constitute unfair competition.

The Houston-based radio ministry argues that its mark and Hope Channel’s mark have “coexisted in the marketplace for years without any instances of known confusion.”

It also noted that Hope Channel waited four years after learning that KSBJ would become Hope Media Group before taking any enforcement action.

“[Hope Media Group] would suffer material economic prejudice and loss of legal rights if [Hope Channel] were now permitted to assert claims it could have brought years earlier,” the second lawsuit argues.

Hope Channel has until October 2 to file its motion to dismiss in the Texas case.

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