This intellectual property case has moved to court after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and “Mormon Stories” podcaster John Dehlin failed to reach an amicable agreement.

The Church has filed an official complaint in federal court. The main accusation is that Dehlin intentionally used logos and symbols that are too similar to the Church’s, thereby confusing people.

What Is the Core of the Conflict?

The Church asserts that this is not about censorship or criticism (Dehlin was excommunicated from the Church back in 2015 and frequently criticizes it). The issue is exclusively one of branding:

1. Similarity of Logos: The podcast used a blue color scheme and a design with “rays of light” that very closely resemble the Church’s official style.

2. Use of the Name: Although the Church is currently asking not to be called “Mormon,” it still owns the rights to the name “Mormon.”

3. Copyrighted Photos: The lawsuit alleges that the podcast used copyrighted photographs of Church leaders without permission.

Confusion Among Viewers

As evidence, the Church provided comments from Facebook and YouTube where people wrote that they cannot understand: is this an official Church channel or not? One viewer asked: “Is this channel run by Mormons? Or ex-Mormons? I just don’t understand.”

The Podcaster’s Position

John Dehlin and his team deny any wrongdoing. They believe that:

• There is no confusion.

• The Church “abandoned” the word “Mormon” when it stopped using it officially, so it is now allegedly “up for grabs.”

• The Church’s demand to add a large warning at the beginning of each video (stating that the podcast is not affiliated with the Church) is “unreasonable.”

Dehlin changed the color of his logo to orange after the initial letters from lawyers, but this was not enough for the Church.

Why Is This Important for Lawyers and Everyday People?

This case raises a complex question: where does the right to free expression end and the violation of brand rights begin?

The Church insists that it is obligated to protect its marks so that everyone knows where the official position of the religious organization is, and where a private blog is. If you use someone else’s font, rays of light, and names that have been associated with a specific organization for decades, you are “freeloading” off of someone else’s recognizable name.

What Is the Church Demanding?

• To prohibit the podcast from using any marks that are similar to the Church’s.

• To cease the use of Church photographs.

Now it is up to the court in the state of Utah to decide whether the similarity in design is a sufficient reason to force the podcaster to completely change the image of his channel.

Founder of Research & Patent group Intectica, author of patent algorithms for solving problems in the pharmaceutical industry, patent attorney certified in all intellectual property objects (Patents, Design, TM), with education in chemistry and law, chief expert of the patent institution of Ukraine UKRPATENT (1997-2004). Member of international organizations, including ECTA, PTMG, UAM, lecturer and blogger.