Intellectual Property

Recent Posts

More Legal Troubles for the NFL; Retired Player Files Class Action to Protect Retirees’ Images
Posted on 13 Jul 2011 by Travis Burchart

UPDATE: On July 13 th , ex-Green Bay Packer, Darrell Thompson, filed a similar class action lawsuit in the District of Minnesota. View or download the complaint filed in Thompson v. NFL, 11-01900 (D. Minn. 07-13-11) . Sports Illustrated called... Read More

A Strange Trademark Menu: Hamburgers, Chick-fil-A and Bo Jackson
Posted on 4 Aug 2011 by Travis Burchart

Last week, N'Genuity Enterprises sued Chick-fil-A for trademark infringement. The oddities (I mean "facts") of the case involve ex-professional athlete Bo Jackson, the "Bo Burger," and the talking cow from the Chick-fil-A commercials... Read More

More Legal Troubles for the NFL; Retired Player Files Class Action to Protect Retirees’ Images
Posted on 13 Jul 2011 by Travis Burchart

UPDATE: On July 13 th , ex-Green Bay Packer, Darrell Thompson, filed a similar class action lawsuit in the District of Minnesota. View or download the complaint filed in Thompson v. NFL, 11-01900 (D. Minn. 07-13-11) . Sports Illustrated called... Read More

College Athletes: You Want to Get Paid without Violating NCAA Rules? File a Trademark Lawsuit a la Johnny Manziel
Posted on 27 Feb 2013 by Travis Burchart

Under NCAA rules, boosters can't pay college athletes, but apparently, the courts can. The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the NCAA has determined that Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel, can keep any potential... Read More

I Just Learned Tebowing, Now I Have to Start Kaepernicking? Another NFL QB Seeks a Trademark
Posted on 24 Jan 2013 by Travis Burchart

At the dawn of Tim Tebow mania, so many eons ago, man became infatuated with the art of "Tebowing." Like its predecessors "planking" and "moon walking," Tebowing became a verb that would be with us for generations to come... Read More

Football Powerhouse, University of Alabama, Suffers Defeat in 11th Circuit Trademark / Football Painting Case
Posted on 14 Jun 2012 by Travis Burchart

The Alabama Crimson Tide came rolling into court this week only to find its trademark claims stuffed at the goal line. Who did the stuffing? The First Amendment, with a little help from the 11 th Circuit. As the court stated: [W]e have no hesitation... Read More

Ohio State University Has a Taste for Poultry in Trademark Dispute, Claims “O-H-I-O” Is Going to the Birds
Posted on 14 Mar 2012 by Travis Burchart

Trademarks once again prove the great unifier between chicken and athletics. Last August, it brought together Bo Jackson and Chick-fil-A . Now, football powerhouse Ohio State University has its trademark sights set on poultry manufacturer, Park Farms... Read More

Football Powerhouse, University of Alabama, Suffers Defeat in 11th Circuit Trademark / Football Painting Case
Posted on 14 Jun 2012 by Travis Burchart

The Alabama Crimson Tide came rolling into court this week only to find its trademark claims stuffed at the goal line. Who did the stuffing? The First Amendment, with a little help from the 11 th Circuit. As the court stated: [W]e have no hesitation... Read More

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP: The National Football League Decides to "Just Do It"
Posted on 16 Apr 2012 by Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Though the news of Nike's exclusive deal with the NFL broke some time ago, the agreement will officially go into full effect this month and the look of Monday Night Football is about to change. Replacing adidas, this will be the first time that Nike... Read More