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Double, double toil and trouble!
The company that produces the Drunk Shakespeare-branded theatrical shows sued Amazon, claiming an episode of Prime Video’s YA ice hockey romantic-drama “Off Campus” used its trademarks
without permission.
Brass Jar, the New York-based company behind Drunk Shakespeare, did not specify the amount of monetary damages it is seeking but said in the complaint, “As a result of such counterfeiting by Defendants, Brass Jar is also entitled to recover attorneys’ fees, treble damages, and/or statutory damages of up to $2 million per counterfeit mark per type of services sold, and pursuant to each type of good sold, if any, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1117.”
Variety has reached out to Amazon for comment.
“Off Campus,” which is based on a series of novels by Elle Kennedy, premiered all eight episodes on Prime Video on May 13, 2026.
In Episode 4 of Season 1, titled “The Breakup,” there’s “an extended sequence set at a fictional college ‘Drunk Shakespeare’ production, together with multiple lines of dialogue referencing ‘Drunk Shakespeare,’ without Plaintiff’s authorization or consent,” the lawsuit states.
Amazon’s alleged unauthorized use of the Drunk Shakespeare and Drunk trademarks, according to Brass Jar’s lawsuit, “has caused and is likely to continue to cause confusion – including reverse-confusion — mistake, and deception among consumers as to the source, sponsorship, or affiliation of Defendants’ Off Campus series and Plaintiff’s Brass Jar Productions.”
Brass Jar says its live theatrical productions of Drunk Shakespeare combine “Shakespearean performance with alcohol consumption in an intimate, sophisticated, upmarket, professionally staged setting.” The company currently produces shows in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Phoenix, Los Angeles and Houston, and offers additional Drunk-branded productions (including Drunk Romeo & Juliet, Drunk Dracula, Drunk Pirates and Drunk Christmas Carol).
Brass Jar said its attorney notified Amazon in a June 3 letter of Brass Jar’s “rights in the Asserted Marks and requested that the parties discuss a resolution of Plaintiff’s concerns regarding Off Campus’s unauthorized use of Plaintiff’s marks and Trade Dress.” According to the lawsuit, counsel for Amazon “responded in a letter that included an extensive discussion of why Defendants’ program did not infringe on Plaintiff’s copyright, despite Plaintiff making no allegation in the June 3 Letter that Off Campus was infringing on Plaintiff’s copyright.”
Brass Jar filed the lawsuit against Amazon on Thursday (Sept. 17) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division. A copy of the complaint is available at this link.
According to Drunk Shakespeare’s description of the show, it goes like this: “Five professional actors gather as members of The Drunk Shakespeare Society, and one of them downs five shots of whiskey before attempting a leading role in a Shakespearean classic. What follows is 90 minutes of comedy, chaos, and quick-thinking improvisation while the four sober actors fight to keep the script on track. No two performances are ever the same. It all comes down to who’s drinking and what they’re drinking.”
