SportsBusiness Daily — Sports Business Resources — your sports business news and information source. Learn More
Advanced
Home About Us Advertise With Us Marketplace/Classifieds College & University Program Subscribe/Trial My Account

Thursday
June 25, 2009
Print This Issue


 
MOST VIEWED STORIES
View the top 20 stories
 
Recent Issues
Sponsorships, Advertising & Marketing

Licensing Company Sues Nike, Basketball HOF Over Jordan Line

Nike Expects To Release Its Air Jordan
Hall Of Fame Collection In September
Massachusetts-based Sports licensing company SportsFuzion filed a lawsuit Monday in Norfolk (MA) Superior Court against Nike and the Basketball HOF, "alleging fraud and breach of contract, over a proposed Nike line of Michael Jordan sportswear," according to Nicholas Casey of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The company, which is seeking damages of more than $10M, claims that Nike and the HOF's plans for a "line of 'Air Jordan Hall of Fame' sportswear circumvent a 2006 contract that it said gave SportsFuzion exclusive sportswear licensing rights" to the HOF's trademarks and logos. The lawsuit alleges that Nike, which has held rights to Jordan-branded goods since '84, "didn't work with SportsFuzion in the Hall of Fame arrangement." SportsFuzion VP Steve Barlow: "Nike and the Hall of Fame basically colluded to cut us out of this deal." SportsFuzion also said that under its original agreement with the HOF, the company is "entitled to collect nearly 90% of the net sales of Hall of Fame sportswear with the remainder going" to the HOF. However, Basketball HOF VP/Advancement Scott Zuffelato said that his organization has "no licensing agreement with SportsFuzion" (WSJ.com, 6/23). Nike is "expected to release its Air Jordan Hall of Fame collection this summer, ahead of Jordan's induction" into the HOF in September (AP, 6/24). The lawsuit also charges Nike with "interfering with a contract and charges both parties with unfair and deceptive trade practices." SportsFuzion said that it "met multiple times with executives from Nike's Brand Jordan, but Nike turned down a deal in November 2007" (REUTERS, 6/24).


Get A Free Trial To SportsBusiness Daily

Reader Comments

To post comments on this article, log in or register for a free trial.

Related Stories By Company Related Stories By Sport
UCF-Adidas Spat May Head To Court
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Jordan Wears Nike; adidas Ending UCF Deal
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Polo Ralph Lauren Unveils U.S. Outfits
November 4, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Should Marcus Jordan Give Up Nike Request?
October 26, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

adidas-UCF Deal Could Be Strained By Jordan
October 22, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

UCF-Adidas Spat May Head To Court
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Teams H1N1 Vaccinations Examined
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

ESPN Interested In March Madness Rights
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Jordan Wears Nike; adidas Ending UCF Deal
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Maple Leafs, Raptors Receive H1N1 Vaccine
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

ALSO IN THIS SECTION


A Publication of Street & Smith's Sports Group.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (REVISED 2009-06-23) and Privacy Policy (REVISED 2009-06-23).

© 2009 Street & Smith's Sports Group and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Street & Smith's Sports Group.