Rich Paul's Klutch Sports Group has hauled Klutch Cannabis into court, accusing the Ohio cannabis operator of stepping on the Klutch brand with its downtown Cleveland dispensary. The fight pairs a high-profile sports agency with a regional marijuana retailer over a short, shared name that both companies have folded into their marketing.
According to Crain's Cleveland Business, Klutch Sports filed the trademark complaint on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Crain's reports that the filing claims the respondents' use of the Klutch name and a crown-style logo infringes Klutch Sports' branding and could leave consumers thinking the two operations are connected.
Local storefront at center of dispute
Klutch Cannabis opened a downtown Cleveland location at 300 Prospect Ave E in 2025 and promotes Klutch-branded flower, vapes, edibles and merch on its website. The company's own announcement lists the Prospect Avenue address and describes the downtown shop as a flagship location, underscoring why this particular case is anchored in Cleveland.
Where the brands overlap
Klutch Sports, led by agent Rich Paul, has pushed into consumer goods with a Klutch Athletics line and related merchandising efforts, including a partnership with New Balance. That expansion into apparel and lifestyle products helps explain why the agency is now watching uses of the KLUTCH name outside of traditional athlete representation work.
Trademark filings to watch
Public trademark records show Klutch Cannabis (ATCPC of Ohio, LLC) with an application or registration for "KLUTCH CANNABIS" featuring a crown-design logo, while Klutch Sports has filed for marks such as "KLUTCH ATHLETICS" covering apparel and fitness services. Those filings are visible in U.S. trademark records via Justia and Justia, and they are expected to be central exhibits if the court dives into a confusion or dilution analysis.
Legal outlook
Trademark disputes typically turn on how likely consumers are to be confused and on whether a mark is strong or famous enough to be enforced across different industries. The cannabis sector adds a wrinkle, since federal trademark protection and TTAB practice around cannabis-related goods and paraphernalia remain complicated, a fact legal commentators say can shape both registration strategies and how aggressively companies can enforce their rights.
What this means for Cleveland
For downtown shoppers and local merch sellers, the outcome could determine whether the Prospect Avenue store keeps using the Klutch name and crown logo on packaging and apparel or is forced to rebrand. Early procedural moves, along with the possibility of a settlement or licensing deal, are the likeliest near-term developments in a dispute that blends national brand strategy with a very visible local storefront.
