The 'Klaw' logo in question is an outline of the basketball star's hand that includes his initials and the number 2, which is his jersey number.
Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard is in a trademark dispute with his former sponsor Nike over his personal logo.
Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors arrives at the arena before Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoofs on May 12, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard is taking on his former sponsor,The 2014 NBA champion, filed a lawsuit on Monday, alleging Nike filed a copyright of a logo he originally created without his permission, unbeknownst to him.
Leonard said he shared the logo with Nike and allowed them to use it on their merchandise but says he never transferred the rights to the logo. "Conversely as the many communications, including text and e-mails show, Leonard permitted Nike to use the Leonard logo for their mutual benefit ... for the term of their contract," it said.
Scott Rosner, academic director of the sports management program at Columbia University, said there is a lot of bad blood between Nike and Kawhi over the end of their relationship and Nike could be looked at as the "spurned ex." Nike is trying to prevent privately held New Balance, in particular, from monetizing Kawhi's brand.
"Even if Nike were legally in the right, the mere fact that a brand that relies so heavily on elite commercial athletes would attempt to prevent one of its former partner athletes from marketing his own license will make it far more difficult for Nike to sign endorsement deals with athletes in the future," he said. "The NBA is a small, close knit league and picking a battle of this nature against one of the elite athletes seems like a fool-hearted move.
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