Rapper T.I. is facing a lawsuit for trademark infringement over the title of his unreleased movie, Situationships. The suit was filed last month by Cylia Senii, the creator of a popular web series with the same name, who claims the film infringes on her trademark.
Senii’s series, which began on YouTube in 2016 before moving to platforms like BET Digital and Amazon Prime, has been in development as a TV and film project since 2019. In her lawsuit, she alleges that T.I.’s upcoming movie infringes on her established brand.
In a legal response filed in the Southern District of New York, T.I.’s attorneys denied most of Senii’s claims. They argue that the term “Situationships” is too generic to be protected by trademark law and that Senii has not provided sufficient proof of exclusive ownership or widespread public recognition of the brand.
The defense also challenged the venue of the lawsuit, arguing that Georgia would be a more appropriate jurisdiction since most of the parties and witnesses involved are located there. Furthermore, they contended that the use of the title was not intended to confuse the public or profit from Senii’s work.
T.I.’s legal team raised several defenses, including that Senii waited too long to assert her rights. They also insisted that the phrase “Situationships” describes a common relationship dynamic, not a distinctive brand. The defense also pointed out that T.I. and his company acted without malicious intent, as the film has not yet been officially titled or released.