Autodesk Sues Google Over ‘Flow AI’ Video Tool Name
▼ Summary
– Autodesk is suing Google for trademark infringement, alleging Google’s AI video generator “Flow” will confuse customers with Autodesk’s own “Flow” brand of filmmaking tools.
– Autodesk introduced its Flow platform in 2022 as a cloud-based service for creators and has since released AI-powered products like Flow Studio.
– After Google launched its “Flow” app in May 2025, Autodesk requested it stop using the name, and Google proposed marketing it as “Google Flow.”
– Autodesk claims Google misrepresented its plans by filing a trademark in Tonga before applying in the US and that customer confusion has already occurred on social media and in publications.
– The lawsuit seeks a court order to block Google from using the “Flow” trademark and demands unspecified damages for the alleged infringement.
A major legal dispute has emerged in the technology sector, pitting software giant Autodesk against Google in a trademark infringement case. The core of the lawsuit centers on the name “Flow,” which both companies now use for their respective artificial intelligence tools. Autodesk, renowned for its industry-standard 3D design software, asserts that Google’s recent launch of an AI video generator called “Flow” creates a significant likelihood of customer confusion with its own established suite of filmmaking products.
Autodesk first brought its Flow platform to market in 2022, positioning it as a cloud-based creative hub for filmmakers and content creators. This brand has since expanded to include specific tools like Flow Studio, an application that leverages AI to convert standard live-action video into immersive 3D environments. The company argues it has built substantial brand equity and recognition around the Flow name within professional creative circles.
The conflict ignited when Google introduced its own AI-powered video application under the identical “Flow” moniker in May of 2025. According to the legal filing, Autodesk promptly contacted Google requesting it cease using the name. Google’s reported response was to propose marketing the product as “Google Flow” instead of the standalone term “Flow.” However, Autodesk contends this offer was misleading. The lawsuit alleges Google had already quietly filed for a trademark on the word “Flow” in Tonga, a jurisdiction where such applications are not publicly visible, before seeking to register the name in the United States and citing that prior filing.
The complaint states that marketplace confusion is not merely a theoretical risk but is already happening. Autodesk claims there are multiple instances on social media platforms and in industry publications where users and commentators have mistakenly referred to Google’s new video tool as “Flow Studio,” directly referencing the Autodesk product. This, the company argues, demonstrates clear brand dilution and infringement on its intellectual property.
In its filing with a California court, Autodesk is seeking a judicial order to prevent Google from using the “Flow” trademark. Additionally, the company is pursuing unspecified monetary damages related to the alleged infringement. Google has not issued a public statement regarding the allegations at this time. The outcome of this case could set an important precedent regarding trademark rights in the fast-evolving and increasingly crowded field of AI-powered creative software.
(Source: The Verge)
