Nike has sued Reebok over its use Tim Tebow’s "name on New York Jets-related clothing,” according to Bob Van Voris of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Nike claims that Reebok “doesn’t have the right to use Tebow’s name on Jets merchandise.” Nike in a complaint filed yesterday in federal court in Manhattan claimed that Reebok is “illegally trying to capitalize on Tebow’s March 21 trade from the Denver Broncos to the Jets to sell Tebow-related football shirts and other apparel.” Nike said in the filing, “Reebok has taken it upon itself to illegitimately seize on this unique and short-lived consumer opportunity.” Nike is seeking “an order barring Reebok from selling the items, plus unspecified damages” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/28). The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Chad Bray notes the lawsuit claims that Reebok’s agreement to sell NFL-player themed apparel “expired prior to March 1, the effective date of Nike’s licensing agreement” with the NFLPA. Nike also “has an agreement with Tebow individually to sell products bearing his name.” The lawsuit claims that Reebok as of March 1 is “limited to selling what remains of its existing inventory of products, which would include Tebow apparel from his former team, the Denver Broncos, not the Jets” (WSJ.com, 3/28). Nike is seeking "unspecified compensatory and punitive damages from Reebok, but makes it clear it wants the profits from sales of the Tebow apparel" (REUTERS, 3/28).
