ERICA on Trial: Tech Founder Takes Bank of America and GoDaddy to Georgia Supreme Court

In a stunning legal development, the Georgia Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could reshape intellectual property law and corporate accountability across the nation. The case, Erik M. Underwood v. The State of Georgia, centers around the alleged theft and fraudulent cancellation of the ERICA trademark—a pioneering AI personal assistant created by entrepreneur and tech innovator Erik M. Underwood.

Underwood, the founder of My24HourNews.Com, Inc., originally registered the ERICA trademark in Georgia in 2010, with commercial use dating back to 2009. ERICA served as the voice of his AI-driven search engine platform, long before major financial institutions adopted similar technologies.

According to court documents, Underwood alleges that Bank of America, in conspiracy with GoDaddy, executed a criminal scheme involving racketeering, fraud, and the manipulation of public officials to cancel the ERICA trademark in 2019—clearing the way for the bank to use the name for its now-ubiquitous digital assistant, which currently serves more than 50 million customers and generates billions of dollars in quarterly revenue.

"This case is not only about my stolen intellectual property," said Underwood. "It's about holding billion-dollar corporations accountable for criminal conduct, and ensuring that small business owners and innovators—especially in Georgia—are not steamrolled by fraudulent corporate behavior and government inaction."

The complaint also implicates Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for failing to act despite receiving “clear and convincing evidence” of the fraud, allegedly violating Underwood's constitutional right to due process and property.

Legal experts say the case presents a "matter of first impression"—meaning it could set new legal precedent, particularly with respect to state-level RICO statutes, IP protection, and the interplay between corporate power and government responsibility.

Underwood is also seeking an injunction to block continued use of the ERICA trademark by Bank of America and others named in the complaint.

With oral arguments are set for June 2025, the outcome of this case could affect not just trademark law in Georgia but also tens of millions of Bank of America customers nationwide who use the ERICA assistant.

As this legal battle unfolds, many are watching closely to see whether justice can prevail in the face of corporate giants.

For the full Georgia State Supreme Court Appellant Opening Brief (Underwood v. State of Georgia), click here.

 

Source: My24Erica.com - Staff: Published April 7, 2025 @1:30pm EST