Lady Gaga has scored a major legal victory in the battle over her “Mayhem” album branding. A federal judge sided with the singer, finding that her use of the name is protected by free-speech principles.
The ruling follows an earlier win for Gaga, when the same judge rejected Lost Surfboards’ attempt to block her from selling “Mayhem” merchandise while the case played out.
Lady Gaga has defeated a trademark lawsuit accusing her of infringing on a surfboard brand with the name of her “Mayhem” album.
U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin dismissed the case on Tuesday, August 18, ruling that Gaga’s use of the word was protected by the First Amendment. Lost Surfboards had sued the singer last year, arguing that consumers could mistakenly believe the album was connected to its Mayhem line, which the company says it has sold since the 1980s.
According to Billboard, the company also took issue with Gaga’s stylized red “Mayhem” logo, claiming it closely resembled branding used on its surfboards and merchandise. However, Olguin found that the lawsuit failed to show that Gaga had explicitly misled consumers about the source of her work. The judge noted that titles of expressive works, such as albums, receive heightened free-speech protection.
Gaga Fought Off Attempt To Ban ‘Mayhem’ Merch
Months before the lawsuit was dismissed, Gaga was already fighting Lost’s attempt to restrict how she used “Mayhem.”
In May 2025, the surf company sought a preliminary injunction barring Gaga from using the name on clothing and accessories while the case proceeded. The request covered everything from T-shirts and jackets to caps, sandals and tank tops.
Gaga pushed back hard, calling Lost’s consumer-confusion argument “nonsensical.” Her filing stressed that her merchandise was sold primarily through her website and concert tour, while Lost targeted a niche surf market.
Gaga further argued that she had no plans to enter Lost’s territory, bluntly stating that she had “no interest in selling surf gear.” Judge Olguin later denied Lost’s request, allowing Gaga to keep selling the disputed merchandise as the case continued.
Lady Gaga Said ‘Mayhem’ Reflected Her Personal Chaos
Long before “Mayhem” became the subject of a courtroom fight, Gaga had opened up about why the word felt so personal to her.
Speaking to “Good Morning America” around the album’s March 2025 release, Gaga said the title reflected the different versions of herself she has navigated throughout her career. She described feeling as though she had been “playing multiple different people” while learning to hold those identities together.
That internal conflict also connected to how she viewed the world around her. Gaga said she wanted the record to capture personal chaos while still giving listeners something they could celebrate and dance through.
‘Mayhem’ Became One Of Lady Gaga’s Biggest Recent Wins
Whatever the courtroom drama surrounding its name, “Mayhem” quickly became one of Gaga’s biggest recent commercial successes. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking Gaga’s seventh chart-topper and the biggest opening week for an album by a woman at that point in 2025.
Streaming also delivered a career high. “Mayhem” generated 108.05 million official on-demand streams during its first week, while 136,000 units came from traditional album sales. The project made an immediate impact beyond the album chart. Ten songs from “Mayhem” landed on the Billboard Hot 100 in the same week, led by “Die With a Smile” at No. 2 and “Abracadabra” at No. 19.
Gaga also broke a Billboard record when “Mayhem” became her eighth No. 1 on the Top Dance Albums chart, giving her the most leaders in the ranking’s history. Physical sales were strong too, with 74,000 vinyl copies sold in the album’s first week, another personal best for Gaga.
The Story Behind Lost Surfboards’ ‘Mayhem’ Name
For Lost Surfboards, “Mayhem” was part of the brand’s identity long before Gaga entered the picture. The company traces its roots to 1985, when shaper Matt Biolos and a group of school friends formed “Team Lost” around their shared love of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding.
Biolos began sanding surfboards after high school in 1987 and soon started shaping his own. He adopted “Mayhem” as a nickname, inspired by the second board model he shaped, and the name became closely tied to his work. Over the years, Lost grew from a small California surf operation into an international brand.
When they sued Gaga in 2025, Biolos said his company had been making “Lost Mayhem boards” for nearly 40 years. He also framed the dispute as a fight over the brand’s image. Biolos said Lost catered to surfers, skaters, and snowboarders who valued its alternative identity and feared mainstream pop merchandise could dilute that reputation.
