Newcastle Romance author Monique McDonell sued over Pippa Green books

A Newcastle author who co-writes steamy hockey romance novels is being sued by an American publisher alleging trademark infringement over the use of a particular pen name.

Newcastle romance author Monique McDonell (pictured) and her co-author Brea Viragh are being sued for trademark infringement in the United States.

A Newcastle author who co-writes steamy ice hockey-themed romance novels might be in a spot of bother after an American publisher accused her and her co-writer of infringing their trademarked pen name, court documents state.

Australian writer Monique McDonell and her American colleague Brea Viragh have been co-writing spicy ice hockey romances under the name Pippa Green since June 2021, starring fictional teams called the Minnesota Raiders and Arizona Rattlesnakes.

But an American publisher named Bang Laugh Love are now suing the pair for trademark infringement over claims their use of the Pippa Green pen name infringes their trademarked pen-name Pippa Grant.

The Colorado-based publishing house is seeking a jury trial in pursuit of all the profits the pair have ever made from their Pippa Green books in addition to damages.

The Pippa Grant ice hockey and baseball-themed rom com novels have charted in the USA Today Bestsellers Top 60 in May 2021 and #1 on the Amazon Kindle ebook charts in March 2021 since BLL started using the pen name in 2017.

The publisher will allege McDonell and Viragh began publishing sports or ice hockey-themed romances as Pippa Green from June 2021 onwards.

One of the rebranded Eden Dunn books.

By October 2021, BLL alleges at least two book reviewers had confused Pippa Green books as being part of the same fictional world as their Pippa Grant books.

As recently as June 2023, the publisher alleges a reader asked where they could find the Pippa Grant Minnesota Raiders ice hockey romance series – which is, in fact, a Pippa Green publication.

The publisher will further allege McDonell ran a workshop for Romance Writers of Australia in August 2022 about “how to conduct research in specific, targeted subgenres of the romance market to … find success with … pen names”.

Following a cease and desist letter from BLL McDonell and Viragh rebranded Pippa Green as Eden Dunn on all existing and future publications.

But the publisher alleges the use of identical branding and covers with the new name has “forever linked” Eden Dunn and Pippa Green – exacerbating what they allege is existing confusion with Pippa Grant books.

A comparison between the formerly Pippa Green-branded book by McDonell and Viragh, and a Pippa Grant book published by Bang Laugh Love included in the publisher’s lawsuit.

The publisher reiterated the same allegations in their simultaneous claim of unfair competition.

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia on October 3.

BLL is asking the court to permanently forbid McDonell and Viragh from using the Pippa Green and Eden Dunn names, and to permanently destroy any materials bearing either mark.

The publisher is also asking to be awarded all the pair’s profits from the Pippa Green and Eden Dunn books as well as damages and legal costs.

McDonell and Viragh have been contacted for comment.