On August 9, 2022, Oprah Winfrey’s company, Harpo Inc., filed a lawsuit in New York federal court alleging trademark infringement, dilution, unfair competition, and cybersquatting against co-creators and co-hosts of the “Oprahdemics” podcast. The podcast aims to talk about all things Oprah, which Harpo Inc. alleges confuses listeners into believing it is actually endorsed by Oprah. Harpo Inc. further argues that this false association could cause exponential increases in sales, otherwise known as the “The Oprah Effect” or “The O Factor”. Accordingly, Harpo Inc. has demanded the podcast change its name to avoid further dilution of the Oprah brand.
The case is 1:22-cv-06787, Harpo, Inc. v. Jackson, et al.