Orlando Athletic Club Surrenders Butkus Award Trademark
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Dick Butkus Gains Trademark
To Namesake Award |
The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando (DACO) yesterday surrendered its Butkus Award trademark to Pro Football HOFer and award namesake Dick Butkus, "ending a yearlong trademark fight that could have crippled the club financially," according to Alan Schmadtke of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. DACO President Chip Landon: "We're glad it's over, but we're sad. You hate to give up when you know you're in the right. But there comes a point when we really had to think about the kids who won the award the past 23 years. They're proud of that. We didn't want to see that go away." The settlement between Butkus and the DACO assigns the award trademark back to Butkus and also "relieves DACO from paying Butkus' legal costs." The club also gained permission from Butkus for use of his name "in conjunction with two other fundraising events," an annual golf tournament and Pop Warner football program. The settlement states that if Butkus does not continue to give out the award, DACO can "resume the role," but Schmadtke notes there "appears little chance of that." Earlier this month, California Central District Judge Percy Anderson "issued a partial summary judgment in Butkus' favor." Anderson also ruled that DACO was "responsible for Butkus' legal fees, which had risen to more than $200,000." A decision on ownership of the Butkus Award trademark was pending. Landon: "We only had two choices. If we'd have stuck it out and it didn't go our way, we'd have had a huge legal bill. Probably would have bankrupted the club. And we have (college) scholarships out there that we're paying and want to continue" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/29).
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