26-cv-12831 | Warner Bros. Files Schedule A Case: Film and Character Merchandise Sellers Should Check

Case overview

• Plaintiff: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (the U.S. studio behind a large catalog of films, series, and animated characters)
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• Filed: October 19, 2026
• Status: Filed. The plaintiff also filed a miscellaneous procedural motion the same day.

The complaint and Schedule A defendant list are not yet public; the rights and products at issue will be updated.

What may happen next

Schedule A plaintiffs usually move for a TRO within days of filing. Once granted, marketplaces freeze defendants’ funds. If your store is frozen in the coming days and your products relate to this brand, this case is a likely source.

Seller checklist

Studio enforcement usually involves both trademarks and copyrights, covering characters, stills, and title logos. We suggest:

• Check for apparel, posters, phone cases, stickers, and plush featuring Warner Bros. characters, title logos, or stills
• Holiday season (Halloween, Christmas) brings both higher merchandise sales and more enforcement
• Don’t use screenshots or character images found online as product designs or listing images

Already frozen?

Keep the platform notice, emails from plaintiff’s counsel, affected listings, and sales records. Hold off on replying to the plaintiff or signing anything, and have counsel review the case. See our guide: Store Frozen by a TRO: The First 72 Hours.

Source

CourtListener public docket: 26-cv-12831