The Orlando Economic Partnership (Instagram | Website) has filed a lawsuit against the Orlando Chamber of Commerce (Instagram | Website) and its president, Scott Matthews, accusing the newer organization of infringing on its trademarks and falsely claiming decades of history and accomplishments that actually belong to OEP.
The complaint, filed September 11 in Orange County Circuit Court, alleges federal trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair competition, and violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. OEP is seeking damages exceeding $50,000, along with an injunction barring the defendants from using the “Orlando Chamber of Commerce” name.
“The Orlando Economic Partnership has a responsibility to protect its name, history, reputation, and mission,” said Laureen Martinez, OEP’s senior vice president of marketing, communications and events. “After considerable efforts to resolve the matter, we have filed legal action against an organization whose use of our name and historical identity is creating significant confusion among stakeholders, members, partners, and the communities we serve. This action is intended to protect the public and preserve the integrity of our mission.”
According to the complaint, OEP was formed in 1977 as the merger of two entities that operated under the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce and Orlando Regional Chamber names, marks the organization says it has used continuously since 1988 and 1999, respectively. The lawsuit states OEP has been recognized nationally for its work, including the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ 2023 Chamber of the Year Award and its 2025 and 2026 Applied Research Awards.
Orlando Chamber of Commerce Inc. was incorporated in April 2025, with Matthews listed as its registered agent and incorporator, according to state filing records included in the lawsuit. OEP alleges that despite being less than two years old, OCC’s website falsely portrayed the organization as a chamber dating back to 1913, claiming credit for major regional milestones including the growth of Orlando International Airport, the development of Central Florida’s tourism industry in the 1970s, and the region’s more recent economic diversification into technology and life sciences.
The complaint also alleges that OCC’s website at one point listed OEP’s own president and board chair as part of OCC’s historical leadership, and that OCC has since removed or revised much of the contested content. Separately, OEP’s suit states that Matthews has appeared before the Orange County Board of County Commissioners while representing himself as a voice for the Orlando business community, leading county officials to reach out to OEP under the mistaken belief that OEP had taken a position it had not actually taken.
OEP says it sent cease-and-desist letters to the defendants in February and again in April, which it claims went unanswered before the lawsuit was filed.
