Chinese Athletic Brand Threatens To Countersue Jordan Over Trademark Dispute

Shanghai's First Financial Daily reported Chinese athletic brand Qiaodan said that "it is considering countersuing basketball legend Michael Jordan for malicious prosecution" as its trademark dispute remains in limbo more than nine months after it was first filed, according to WANT CHINA TIMES. Jordan sued Qiaodan in February, accusing the Fujian-based company of "deliberately and aggressively" misleading the public by using his name without permission. Qiaodan is a Chinese transliteration of "Jordan," but the company said that "it has been using the trademark legally since '00 and is protected under Chinese law." Qiaodan is accusing Jordan of "trying to drag the case on indefinitely to tie up its resources and damage its business." The company said, "This no longer has anything to do with fairness or justice; it has become ugly commercial tactics." Qiaodan said it will not give up its right to use "legal avenues to protect its reputation" (WANT CHINA TIMES, 12/17).