Callaway Golf filed suit in U.S. District Court in CA
against Spalding Sports to prevent Spalding from creating
consumer confusion regarding a new Spalding golf ball.
Callaway alleges that Spalding intends to mislead consumers
into believing that its new golf balls are endorsed or
licensed by Callaway Golf to gain benefit. Ely Callaway:
"If Spalding wants to promote a new product, it should do so
using its own name and reputation, not ours. We have had
nothing to do with this ball, and have not even been given
the opportunity to test one. ... We want nothing to do with
what might be a marketing gimmick" (Callaway). In San
Diego, Don Bauder reported that Callaway charged Spalding
with trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair
competition and false designation of origination, over
Spalding's "Club System C" ball, marketed as specially
designed for Callaway's Big Bertha (UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/22).
OBSTRUCTED VIEW: GolfWatch, which allows for inside-
the-ropes viewing at events, has been canceled for this
year's Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic (GGCC) because of
"sluggish advance sales," according to Scott Michaux of the
Greensboro NEWS & RECORD. GGCC Marketing Dir Steve Jones:
"It's a great product, but we looked at the numbers and we
weren't close to where we needed to be." GolfWatch was
earmarked for five tournaments this season. Jones said it
takes at least 400 commitments for GolfWatch to break even,
but that the GGCC had around 150 (NEWS & RECORD, 2/22).
