U.S. District Court Judge Kevin Castel Wednesday ruled that Reebok “must temporarily stop manufacturing” apparel featuring the name and number of Jets QB Tim Tebow in response to a lawsuit filed earlier in the week by Nike, according to Chad Bray of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Castel ordered Reebok to temporarily stop making or selling "unauthorized" Tebow gear and to “recall any Tebow-related Jets apparel in its supply chain.” The judge also “barred Reebok from accepting additional orders for Tebow-related Jets items.” The order “allows Reebok to distribute and sell” Broncos-related merchandise featuring Tebow's name as long as it “was manufactured prior to March 1," when its license with the NFLPA expired. A hearing is “set for April 4 in Manhattan federal court on whether to continue the restraining order until the case is resolved.” Nike is “expected to reveal its line of redesigned NFL jerseys at a media event in New York on April 3.” In addition to being the exclusive supplier of NFL jerseys, Nike “has signed a separate deal with Mr. Tebow individually to market athletic and casual apparel under his name” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/30). In Jacksonville, Justin Barney wrote, “I don’t claim to be the authority on interpreting multi-million dollar merchandising contracts, but shouldn’t someone at Reebok have checked that out before the mass production of jerseys that Nike now says are illegal and wants destroyed?” (JACKSONVILLE.com, 3/29).
