Stanley tumblers have become a social media sensation, inspiring everything from viral trends to long lines at retailers.
However, in November 2025 , the company behind the iconic drinkware—Pacific Market International (PMI)—filed a high-profile lawsuit against discount retailer Five Below , accusing it of parasitic and intentional copying by selling knockoff tumblers that allegedly infringe on Stanley’s protected design patents, trademarks, and trade dress.
Court for the Northern District of California on November 6 , PMI’s lawsuit claims that Five Below’s Hydraquench and HydraSip tumblers are substantially the same as Stanley’s patented Quencher and IceFlow products. The legal complaint points to PMI’s protection of two U.S.
design patents— D805,838 (lid) and D955,173 (beverage container) —and asserts that Five Below intentionally chose designs and features that would make its products difficult to distinguish from authentic Stanley tumblers.
PMI accuses Five Below of design patent infringement, trade dress infringement, trademark infringement, false designation of origin, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment.
The company is seeking monetary damages and an injunction to stop further sales, arguing that continued duplication erodes Stanley’s distinctiveness and reputation. Legal Context for Brands: Copycat Risk or Coincidence?…
