Merch Traffic, the official merchandise supplier for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, has filed a lawsuit seeking a nationwide injunction against counterfeit sellers. The action targets bootleggers outside tour venues, starting with Springsteen's upcoming show in New Jersey. The company aims to seize infringing products through the end of the tour in May.
Merch Traffic, a Live Nation subsidiary, filed trademark infringement claims on April 9 in New Jersey federal court. The suit accuses anonymous bootleggers of selling low-quality, underpriced knockoffs of official Springsteen t-shirts and hats outside arenas since the Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour began on March 31 in Minneapolis. The legal push focuses initially on the April 20 concert at Newark's Prudential Center, Springsteen's hometown show in the Garden State. A representative for Springsteen did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Merch Traffic argues that without a broad seizure order, it would face costs exceeding $375,000 to pursue separate lawsuits nationwide. The filing states: “Without the proposed seizure order, plaintiff will be forced to file separate civil actions throughout the United States at an estimated expense of well over $375,000 in legal fees and costs, imposing a great burden upon both plaintiff and the judicial resources of the federal courts.” Such injunctions, enforced by off-duty police, are standard for authorized suppliers during major tours. Merch Traffic secured similar orders for Springsteen tours in 2016 and 2023, as have merch partners for artists including Tate McRae, Dua Lipa and Benson Boone.
