Sierra Mist Lawsuit Update 2025: The Truth About PepsiCo’s Name Change, Trademark, and Viral Claims
You’ve probably seen people talking about the sierra mist lawsuit update or typing “sierra mist vs cierra mistt” into search. It started small just a TikTok. Cierra Mistt, a popular creator, said PepsiCo came after her for having a name too close to their old soda, Sierra Mist. Sounds wild, yeah? Then it blew up. Everyone had an opinion.
Some laughed, some got confused, others started digging for proof. In this post, we’ll go through what really happened, what’s just talk, and how one short video turned into a viral storm online.
| # | Fact / Metric | Figure / Detail | What It Shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Year Sierra Mist was launched | 1999 | PepsiCo introduced Sierra Mist to compete with Sprite. |
| 2 | Year Sierra Mist was discontinued | 2023 | Officially replaced by Starry as part of PepsiCo’s rebranding strategy. |
| 3 | Years Sierra Mist was in market | Around 24 years | Shows how long the brand existed before being phased out. |
| 4 | Trademark owner | PepsiCo, Inc. | Confirms that PepsiCo still legally owns the Sierra Mist trademark. |
| 5 | Trademark status | Active and valid | The name was never lost or expired, despite online rumors. |
| 6 | Reason for discontinuation | Low sales & weak Gen Z engagement | PepsiCo cited declining demand and poor market performance. |
| 7 | Rebranding goal | Launch of Starry | Aimed to attract younger audiences with a modern identity. |
| 8 | Influencer linked to rumor | Cierra Mistt (TikTok creator) | Her viral video sparked the “Sierra Mist lawsuit” myth. |
| 9 | Actual lawsuit filed | None | No legal record exists of any PepsiCo vs. Cierra Mistt case. |
| 10 | PepsiCo’s U.S. market share (lemon-lime sodas) | Around 7–8% (pre-Starry) | Highlighted the need for a stronger competitor to Sprite. |
What Is the Sierra Mist Lawsuit About?
The Viral Claim: “Sierra Mist vs Cierra Mistt”
It all started with a TikTok video. Influencer Cierra Mistt claimed that PepsiCo took legal action against her because her name sounded too much like their old drink, Sierra Mist. She said the company accused her of using their trademark and even hinted that she “won” the case.
Soon, everyone began talking about the so-called sierra mist lawsuit girl — some believed it, others didn’t. The story spread fast across TikTok and Twitter, turning into one of those online mysteries that just wouldn’t die.
What Exactly Was She Claiming?
- She got a letter from PepsiCo asking her to stop using her stage name, Cierra Mistt.
- She claimed Pepsi had lost rights to the Sierra Mist trademark.
- She suggested she somehow owned the name now and Pepsi couldn’t use it anymore.
That was enough to make people think Pepsi changed Sierra Mist’s name to Starry because of her — which sounded wild but kind of believable to some.
The Legal Side: What’s True and What’s Not
When people started digging, things didn’t really add up.
The Trademark Still Exists
PepsiCo still owns the Sierra Mist trademark. It didn’t expire or disappear.
No Real Lawsuit Found
There’s no record of any official court case between PepsiCo and Cierra Mistt. So the “lawsuit” part was likely just a misunderstanding or maybe a joke that went too far.
Letters Don’t Mean Lawsuits
Big brands often send cease-and-desist letters to protect their names. That doesn’t mean it goes to court or that someone “won.”
Trademark, Not Copyright
Cierra also mixed up a few terms. She talked about “copyrights” and “rights,” but this whole thing is about trademark law, not copyright. Copyright protects art or writing — trademarks protect brand names.
PepsiCo’s Official Move: From Sierra Mist to Starry
The Big Change
While everyone was busy talking about the “lawsuit,” PepsiCo had already made a real business move. The company officially replaced Sierra Mist with a new lemon-lime soda called Starry. This wasn’t about Cierra Mistt or any influencer drama. It was part of PepsiCo’s plan to refresh its image and compete better in the soda market.
So yes — there was a change, but it wasn’t because of a TikTok rumor. It was a business decision.
Why Was Sierra Mist Discontinued?
For years, Sierra Mist struggled to keep up with its biggest rival — Sprite. Sales were slow, and the brand didn’t connect much with younger audiences. PepsiCo wanted something new, something that looked and felt more modern.
That’s when they decided to say goodbye to Sierra Mist and bring in Starry, a drink made to appeal to Gen Z. New name, new logo, new flavor — everything fresh.
What PepsiCo Said About It
PepsiCo described Starry as a “crisp, clear, and refreshing” lemon-lime drink. They said the rebrand was about creating a bolder, more youthful identity. Basically, they wanted a drink that could finally compete with Sprite’s long-time popularity.
So instead of fixing Sierra Mist, they started over. They didn’t want people to think of it as the same old soda — they wanted something that stood out.
The Timing and Confusion
Here’s where the mix-up happened. Around the same time PepsiCo launched Starry, Cierra Mistt’s videos started going viral. People connected the two events and assumed one caused the other.
But that wasn’t true. The Sierra Mist name change was already planned months before. PepsiCo’s decision had nothing to do with any influencer, lawsuit, or social media trend.
The Real Story
- PepsiCo didn’t rename Sierra Mist because of a TikTok creator.
- The brand was discontinued because of weak sales and poor branding.
- Starry was created to bring new energy and attract younger consumers.
Did PepsiCo Really Lose a Lawsuit? The Legal Reality
The Viral Claim
After Cierra Mistt’s video went viral, many people started saying PepsiCo lost a huge case. Some even searched for things like sierra mist lawsuit settlement payout date — expecting there was money involved or that Pepsi had to pay the influencer. But here’s the truth: there was never any official lawsuit or settlement between PepsiCo and Cierra Mistt.
What the Internet Got Wrong
The story online made it sound dramatic — Pepsi lost their rights, Cierra won the name, and everything ended with a big payout. But none of that really happened. It was a mix of rumors, confusion, and assumptions.
A lot of people saw the rebranding from Sierra Mist to Starry and thought it was connected to some secret lawsuit. But in reality, PepsiCo made that change for business reasons, not because of any legal loss.
The Trademark Reality
Here’s the important part — PepsiCo still owns the Sierra Mist trademark. The registration never expired. Some fans online talked about a sierra mist trademark expiration, but that was just a misunderstanding. The trademark is still valid, and PepsiCo has the legal rights to it.
What About the “Cease and Desist”?
Cierra Mistt might have received a letter asking her to avoid using the name, but that doesn’t mean a case went to court. Big companies do that often to protect their brand names. It’s part of normal legal work not a full lawsuit.
These letters are warnings, not judgments. They don’t come with payouts or settlements. They’re just reminders that a name or brand belongs to someone else.
The Legal Truth
- No sierra mist trademark lawsuit happened.
- No settlement payout or court order exists.
- The Sierra Mist trademark is still owned by PepsiCo.
- The rebranding to Starry was a planned business move, not a legal defeat.
Who Owns the Sierra Mist Name Today?
Clearing the Confusion
After all the viral talk, one big question still hangs around who actually owns the Sierra Mist name today? Many people thought the trademark was gone or that someone else had taken it over. But the truth is simple: PepsiCo still owns the Sierra Mist trademark.
The Trademark Reality
A lot of the confusion came from talk about a sierra mist trademark expiration. Some social media users claimed that Pepsi forgot to renew it, which allowed Cierra Mistt to use the name freely. That sounds dramatic, but it’s not true.
Trademarks don’t just disappear overnight. As long as a company renews them and keeps using them, they stay active. And PepsiCo, being one of the biggest brands in the world, doesn’t just “forget” something that important.
What Happens When Brands Rebrand
When PepsiCo replaced Sierra Mist with Starry, they didn’t lose ownership of the old name. They just stopped selling the product under it. That means the name still belongs to them, even if it’s not on store shelves anymore.
Think of it like keeping an old domain name you might not use it, but you still own it so no one else can. PepsiCo does the same thing with their old brands.
Can Anyone Else Use the Name?
No, not really. If someone tried to start a company, drink, or brand with the name “Sierra Mist,” PepsiCo could step in and stop them. That’s what trademark protection is for to make sure brand names stay linked to the original company.
Even influencers or creators who use a similar name (like Cierra Mistt) can get warnings if the company feels there’s confusion. But that doesn’t mean a lawsuit it just means PepsiCo is protecting its brand.
Final Word
So to sum it up:
- Sierra Mist trademark owner: PepsiCo.
- Trademark status: Still active, not expired.
- Reason for confusion: The viral “lawsuit” story made people think the name was lost.
In reality, PepsiCo still controls the name they’ve just moved on to a new era with Starry. The drink changed, the name stayed, and the internet simply made the story sound bigger than it was.
Public Perception vs. Legal Facts
What the Internet Believed
When the story first hit TikTok, most people only heard one side Cierra Mistt’s version. Her video made it sound like PepsiCo had sued her and lost. The story felt dramatic, funny, and believable enough to go viral.
People online started calling her the sierra mist lawsuit girl. They posted memes, theories, and fake “court updates.” Many assumed the company dropped the soda because they legally couldn’t use the name anymore. That’s how the idea of sierra mist vs cierra mistt spread everywhere — even though there was no official case at all.
What the Legal Reality Shows
- There’s no record of a court case between PepsiCo and Cierra Mistt.
- PepsiCo still owns the Sierra Mist trademark.
- The name change was a planned rebrand, not a legal issue.
- Cierra Mistt’s story was more of a viral claim, not a proven fact.
So while the internet saw a dramatic battle between a big company and a TikToker, the legal reality was calm — nothing actually happened in court.
Why the Story Went So Viral
It’s simple: people love an underdog story. A young creator “beating” a billion-dollar company? That sounds too good to ignore. The internet thrives on drama, and this one checked all the boxes fame, mystery, and a big brand name.
But like many viral stories, it grew from a few words online, not from real documents or proof.
The Real Difference
- Public perception: PepsiCo lost a lawsuit and had to rename their soda.
- Legal facts: PepsiCo rebranded Sierra Mist by choice no court, no loss, no payout.
It’s a good reminder that what we see on social media isn’t always what’s real.
Why PepsiCo Chose to Rebrand Anyway
The Bigger Picture
Even before the viral story, PepsiCo was already working on something new. Sierra Mist had been around for over 20 years, but sales were slow. The drink just couldn’t match the popularity of Sprite. So PepsiCo made a bold move they decided to start fresh.
Why Was Sierra Mist Discontinued?
The answer is simple: it wasn’t connecting with people anymore. The brand felt old, the design was dated, and younger consumers weren’t excited about it. PepsiCo needed a product that looked and tasted more modern.
That’s when they decided to discontinue Sierra Mist and bring in a new soda Starry.
The Sierra Mist Name Change
The sierra mist name change wasn’t a random idea. PepsiCo had been planning it for a while. They wanted a brand that spoke to Gen Z — something fun, bold, and easy to remember. Starry was built to be exactly that.
The company described Starry as a “crisp and refreshing lemon-lime drink” made for today’s generation. New name. New flavor. New look.
It Was Never About a Lawsuit
By the time Cierra Mistt’s story blew up, PepsiCo had already retired Sierra Mist. The timing made it look connected, but it wasn’t. The rebrand had nothing to do with any legal battle — it was pure marketing strategy.
So while the internet joked about Pepsi “losing in court,” the truth is, PepsiCo was already ahead launching a new drink and moving on from a brand that wasn’t performing.
Conclusion
In the end, the whole Sierra Mist lawsuit story was more myth than reality. No court fight. No secret payout. No lost trademark. Just timing, rumors, and a viral twist that fooled almost everyone. PepsiCo didn’t lose anything the Sierra Mist name change was their own move, a business refresh, not some reaction to an influencer.
Funny how fast stories run online, right? The Sierra Mist lawsuit update reminds us that the internet loves drama more than truth. Sometimes it’s just good storytelling, mixed with perfect timing, while the real decisions happen quietly in boardrooms — not on TikTok screens.
