Chinese AI company DeepSeek has already dealt with accusations of intellectual property theft, privacy concerns in Europe, and a major cyberattack. Now, the company is facing a new challenge: a trademark dispute in the United States.
Trademark Filing Conflict
On Tuesday, DeepSeek submitted an application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to secure a trademark for its AI chatbot apps, products, and services. However, it appears the company may have acted too late. Just 36 hours earlier, a Delaware-based firm named Delson Group Inc. had already applied for the “DeepSeek” trademark.
Delson Group claims to have been selling AI products under the DeepSeek brand since early 2020. The company, headquartered in Cupertino, lists its founder and CEO as Willie Lu. Interestingly, Lu shares an academic connection with DeepSeek’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, as both attended Zhejiang University.
Who is Willie Lu?
According to his LinkedIn profile, Lu describes himself as a “semi-retired” consulting professor at Stanford and an advisor to the FCC. Most of his career has been centered around the wireless technology industry. His name also appears in relation to training courses and lectures on wireless standards.
One of Lu’s notable ventures includes an AI-focused educational course titled “DeepSeek AI Super-Intelligence,” held in Las Vegas. The event, which costs $800 per ticket, is prominently featured on the website linked to Delson Group’s trademark filing. The website claims Lu has three decades of expertise in artificial intelligence and information technology.
When contacted regarding the trademark dispute, Lu responded that he was open to discussing the matter in Palo Alto or Saratoga but did not provide further comments.
A Pattern of Trademark Disputes
A search of the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System reveals that Delson Group has been involved in more than 25 trademark disputes with companies such as Tencent, GSMA, and TracFone Wireless. Some trademarks have been abandoned, while others remain contested.
Delson Group has previously registered trademarks for major Chinese brands, including Geely and China Mobile, raising suspicions of trademark squatting—a practice where trademarks are secured with the intent to resell them or capitalize on a brand’s recognition.
What’s Next for DeepSeek?
Under U.S. trademark law, the first entity to use a name in commerce typically holds the rights to it—unless bad faith registration can be proven. Intellectual property attorney Josh Gerben suggests that Delson Group, having filed first and claiming earlier use, may have the upper hand in this case.
Gerben also notes that Delson could argue “reverse confusion” due to DeepSeek’s rapid rise in popularity and might even attempt to block the Chinese AI company from using its name in the U.S.
If DeepSeek cannot reach a settlement or prove bad faith registration, it may face serious challenges in maintaining its brand identity within the American market.
