Church of Jesus Christ Files Lawsuit Against Mormon Stories Over Trademark and Copyright Infringement

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken legal action against the ex-Mormon podcast “Mormon Stories,” filing a lawsuit for trademark and copyright infringement. This move aims to address concerns about brand confusion and protect the church’s intellectual property rights, ensuring that its official identity is not misused in a way that could deceive the public.

Despite the lawsuit, some critics have suggested the church is attempting to suppress dissent or control the narrative around the term “Mormon.” However, the focus remains on preventing ordinary consumers from being confused about the source of the content, rather than targeting the podcast’s message or viewpoint.

Jasmin Rappleye, a social media content creator, and Brittany Ratelle, the founding attorney of Ratelle Law, emphasize that the legal framework involved is standard and not contentious. They view the lawsuit as a necessary step to uphold the church’s intellectual property protections without overstepping into censorship.

According to the complaint, “Mormon Stories” has closely replicated the church’s official visual branding, including its name and design elements, making it difficult for audiences to distinguish between the two, especially in the context of rapidly consumed media like podcasts.

Additionally, the church alleges that the podcast has repeatedly used its copyrighted photographs and artwork in promotional materials and video thumbnails for commercial purposes, which is unlikely to qualify as fair use under intellectual property law.

The combined issues of branding similarity and copyright infringement contribute to what trademark law identifies as “likelihood of confusion,” potentially misleading viewers into believing an affiliation with the church that does not exist.

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