Legal Dispute Over Use of Phrase: Cloobeck vs Villaraigosa - Claims of Intellectual Property Infringement Regarding the Term 'Proven Problem Solver'
Gov Race Turns Unconventional:
Seema Mehta Follow
In a bizarre twist, a wealthy Democratic businessman, Steve Cloobeck, is taking former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to court over a common campaign phrase. Cloobeck, a successful real estate and hospitality magnate, has filed a lawsuit against Villaraigosa for repeatedly branding himself as a "proven problem solver" in campaign materials.
Cloobeck, who has filed for a federal trademark of the same phrase, sent a text version of the lawsuit to Villaraigosa on Tuesday, but the latter has yet to be served officially. The lawsuit alleges that the phrase has built significant recognition as a symbol of Cloobeck's campaign since March 2024.
"The public might easily be confused or misled into believing that Villaraigosa's campaign is endorsed, supported, or connected to ours," the lawsuit claims. Cloobeck and Villaraigosa are both contenders in the increasingly crowded 2026 California gubernatorial race.
The field has grown diverse since the announcement of the term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom's exit.
Meet the California Governor Candidates in 2026:
From both parties and third-party organizations, the 2026 California gubernatorial race is already bustling with contestants.
A representative from the Villaraigosa campaign dismissed the lawsuit as "ludicrous," whereas Cloobeck claims to have initiated legal action due to a lack of response to attempts for a friendly discussion.
"His lack of response is disrespectful," Cloobeck expressed, adding that they shared a meal at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills six weeks ago. "We can disagree in business and still maintain friendship."
However, legal experts consider the lawsuit unlikely to succeed. According to Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Law School, patents for political phrases are difficult to win, especially in a political context, to avoid limiting free debate.
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- Stephen Cloobeck officially joins the 2026 California governor's race
- Voices: Can Antonio Villaraigosa win the California Governorship?
Note: At the time of the article, Stephen Cloobeck was not publicly acknowledged as a candidate for the 2026 California governor's race. Other notable Democratic candidates include Xavier Becerra, Eleni Koudilakis, Tony Thurmond, Tony Atkins, and Betty Yee, among others. Republican candidates include Steve Hilton, Sheriff Chad Bianco, and many others. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to decide whether to run by the end of summer 2025.
- Steve Cloobeck, a Democratic businessman and real estate magnate from Los Angeles, California, has filed a lawsuit against former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa over the use of a shared campaign phrase, "proven problem solver."
- Cloobeck, who has filed for a federal trademark of the phrase, claims that the public might be confused due to the similarity in campaign materials, suggesting a potential connection or endorsement.
- Villaraigosa, a contender in the 2026 California gubernatorial race, has been using the phrase in his campaign materials since before March 2024.
- The California gubernatorial race in 2026, with a diverse field of candidates from both parties and third-party organizations, is already becoming an unconventional political landscape.
- Despite the lawsuit, legal experts consider it unlikely to succeed due to the difficulty of patents for political phrases, primarily to avoid limiting free debate.
- A philanthropist and incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom, having served his term limit, has announced his exit, opening up the race to candidates like Cloobeck, Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Eleni Koudilakis, Tony Thurmond, Tony Atkins, Betty Yee, Steve Hilton, Sheriff Chad Bianco, and others, including former Vice President Kamala Harris who is expected to decide by the end of summer 2025.
- As the race moves forward, issues such as policy-and-legislation, justice, business, real estate, and general news will continue to be key topics of discussion among the candidates.
