Autodesk sues Google over Flow trademark as AI video tools spark legal battle

Autodesk is suing Google over the name of its Flow AI videomaker

Autodesk, a company known for its suite of 3D design software, is suing Google over claims that it infringed on its "Flow" trademark, as reported earlier by Reuters. The lawsuit, filed in a California court last week, alleges that the name of Google's AI video generator, Flow, will likely confuse customers with Autodesk's own AI-enabled filmmaking tools under the "Flow" brand. Autodesk first introduced Flow in 2022 as a cloud-based platform for filmmakers and other creators. It has since rolled out products under the Flow umbrella, including Flow Studio, which uses AI to transform live-action footage into 3D scenes. After Google launched its AI-powered Flow app in May 2025, Autodesk claims it asked the tech giant to stop using the "Flow" name. Google allegedly responded by saying it would market the product as "Google Flow -- rather than just "Flow." However, Autodesk claims Google "misrepresented" its intentions about its plans to use the "Flow" brand. The company alleges Google filed a trademark in the Kingdom of Tongo, "where applications are not generally available to the public," before applying to register the standalone "Flow" name in the US, citing its Tonga application. Autodesk claims confusion between its Flow products and Google's Flow app has already occurred, alleging that people on social media, magazines, and Google Flow users "have mistakenly referred to Google's product as 'Flow Studio.'" Autodesk is asking the court to block Google from using the Flow trademark, as well as for unspecified damages related to the alleged infringement. Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Google sued by Autodesk over AI-powered movie-making software

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab has been sued by Autodesk (ADSK.O), opens new tab for allegedly infringing its "Flow" trademark to market competing AI-enabled software used to make movies, TV shows and video games. In a complaint filed on Friday in San Francisco federal court, Autodesk said it began using Flow in September 2022 for visual effects, production management and other products, and was surprised when Google launched Flow software in May 2025 aimed at the same customers. Autodesk said Google assured it would not commercialize Flow, yet applied that month to trademark the term in the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific, where applications are not generally available to the public. The complaint said Google used the Tonga application to seek similar trademark protection for Flow in the U.S., and has marketed Flow at industry events including the Sundance Film Festival. "Google's false representation that it would always use a combination of its house mark and Flow was intended to buy time to allow it to swamp Autodesk's place in the market," the complaint said. "Despite the success of Autodesk's Flow products, the much larger Google will likely overwhelm the Autodesk Flow products and Flow marks." The market value of San Francisco-based Autodesk was about $51 billion on Friday, while the market value of Mountain View, California-based Google's parent Alphabet was about $3.9 trillion. Google had no immediate comment on Monday. Autodesk is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for the consumer confusion and alleged irreparable harm Google caused. "We remain committed to protecting our innovations and ensuring fair competition in the global marketplace," Autodesk said in a statement. Last month, Autodesk said it would cut about 1,000 jobs, or 7% of its workforce, as it shifts spending to its cloud platform and artificial intelligence. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Google sued by Autodesk over AI-powered movie-making software

Google has been sued by Autodesk for allegedly infringing its "Flow" trademark to market competing AI-enabled software used to make movies, TV ⁠shows and video games. Google has been sued by Autodesk for allegedly infringing its "Flow" trademark to market competing AI-enabled software used to make movies, TV ⁠shows and video games. In a complaint filed on Friday in San Francisco federal court, Autodesk said it began using Flow in September 2022 for visual effects, production management and other products, and was surprised when Google launched Flow software in May 2025 aimed at the same customers. Autodesk said Google assured it would not commercialize Flow, yet applied that month to trademark the term in the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific, where applications are not generally available to the public. The complaint said Google used the Tonga application to seek similar trademark protection for Flow in the U.S., and has marketed Flow at industry events including the Sundance Film Festival. "Google's false representation that it would always use a combination of its house mark and Flow was intended to buy time to allow it to swamp Autodesk's place in the market," the complaint said. "Despite the success of Autodesk's Flow products, the much larger Google will likely overwhelm the Autodesk Flow products and Flow marks." The market value of San Francisco-based Autodesk was about $51 billion on Friday, while the market value of Mountain View, California-based Google's parent Alphabet was about $3.9 ⁠trillion. Google had no ⁠immediate comment on Monday. Autodesk is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for the consumer confusion and alleged irreparable harm Google caused. "We remain committed to protecting our innovations and ensuring fair competition in the global marketplace," Autodesk said in a statement. Last month, Autodesk said it would cut about 1,000 jobs, or 7% of its workforce, as it shifts spending to its cloud platform and artificial intelligence.

Google Faces Trademark Battle Over AI Video Tools | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The plaintiff said in its complaint that it began using the name "Flow" for software using to make movies, TV shows and video games in September 2022, and that Google launched its own Flow software designed for the same industries in May 2025, according to the report. Autodesk alleges that Google caused consumer confusion and irreparable harm, and the company is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, per the report. The company told Reuters: "We remain committed to protecting our innovations and ensuring fair competition in the global marketplace." Google did not immediately reply to PYMNTS' request for comment. Autodesk Flow is a production hub for media and entertainment, Autodesk said in a January press release. Updates to the software over the past year include enhancements for content organization and editorial collaboration, strengthened integrations and new, free tiers for creators, students and educators. "Altogether, Autodesk Flow's 2025 updates reflect a clear shift toward broader access, stronger connections across creative teams, and tools that meet creators where they are -- whether in the classroom, the edit suite or mid-production," the firm said in the release. When Google introduced its Flow in May, it described the product as an artificial intelligence filmmaking tool built for creatives. The company said in a press release that the tool helps storytellers explore their ideas and create cinematic clips and scenes. "AI is ushering in a new chapter of creativity and filmmaking, and while it's still early, we see so much potential for tools like Flow to unlock new voices and creations," Google said in its press release. It was reported in October 2024 that Google succesfully defended against a trademark lawsuit filed by British short film company Shorts International over the tech giant's YouTube Shorts platform. The court ruled that Google's use of "Shorts" in connection with its short-form video platform did not infringe on the established trademark of Shorts International. Shorts International had filed a lawsuit claiming that YouTube's use of the term "Shorts" could mislead audiences and infringe on its trademark.