Court Dismisses Valvoline Trademark Suit Over V Logo

Valvoline's claims don't belong in federal court, judge rules.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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A federal court has dismissed Valvoline LLC's trademark infringement lawsuit against its former global products business, ruling that the claims arise from a trademark co-existence agreement rather than federal trademark law. The judge declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Valvoline's state-law claims, but noted the parties can refile the case in New York state court.

Why it matters

This decision highlights the importance of clearly defining the legal basis for trademark disputes, as courts will not automatically exercise jurisdiction over claims that are rooted in contractual agreements rather than federal trademark statutes. The ruling could impact how companies structure and litigate trademark-related disputes going forward.

The details

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that Valvoline's claims don't belong in federal court since they arise from a trademark co-existence agreement, rather than the federal Lanham Act. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Valvoline's state-law claims, but noted the parties 'will not face undue hardship by re-filing in New York state court.'

  • The court issued its ruling on February 20, 2026.

The players

Valvoline LLC

A vehicle maintenance service company that filed the trademark infringement lawsuit.

Valvoline's former global products business

The defendant in the trademark infringement lawsuit.

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein

The federal judge who dismissed Valvoline's lawsuit without prejudice.

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What they’re saying

“The parties 'will not face undue hardship by re-filing in New York state court.'”

— Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, US District Court Judge

What’s next

The parties can refile the trademark dispute in New York state court.

The takeaway

This ruling underscores the importance of carefully structuring trademark-related legal claims to ensure they are properly grounded in federal or state law, as courts will not automatically exercise jurisdiction over contractual disputes that do not directly implicate federal trademark statutes.