The ruling does allow Qiaodan Sports to continue using its logo of a silhouetted basketball playerGETTY IMAGES
China's Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Michael Jordan in a "long-running trademark dispute, ending an eight-year legal battle with a Chinese sportswear firm that illegally used his name," according to the AFP. The landmark ruling, made late last month, "prohibits the Fujian-based Qiaodan Sports from using the Chinese translation of Jordan's name, Qiao Dan." The Supreme Court decision overturns two previous verdicts in favor of the Chinese firm, although it allows the firm to "continue using its logo of a silhouetted basketball player -- which has similarities with the 'Jumpman' logo used by Nike." In '16, Jordan "won the right to his name in Chinese characters, but the Supreme Court upheld the firm's right to use its trademark 'Qiaodan' in Romanised English." The verdict acts as a "rare victory for a Western brand in a Chinese intellectual property infringement case" (AFP, 4/9). In Hong Kong, Cissy Zhou notes Qiaodan Sports has "registered around 200 trademarks" based on Jordan since the company was founded in '10 (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 4/9).
CAN LEBRON CATCH MJ? The topic of whether LeBron James could ever surpass Jordan as a worldwide brand was discussed on "First Take" yesterday, with ESPN’s Max Kellerman doubting it: "Just in sneaker sales this past year, MJ out earned LeBron five-to-one.” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said, “LeBron James is trying to build his own media empire. LeBron James is producing movies and television shows. LeBron James has his hands in a multitude of arenas. … If you’re just thinking about sneakers? No, there’s Jordan and there’s everybody else.” Smith said of James: "Knowing that he’s only 35 years old with what he’s built and established already … there’s a legitimate argument that can be made.” ESPN’s Jay Williams: “Even though LeBron James has a multimedia empire … the major advantage that MJ has is when it goes back to the shoe brand. Think about all of the iconic athletes who rep the shoe brand. This could keep him relevant for the next 100 years” ("First Take,” ESPN, 4/8).
