• About Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, April 10, 2021
Citi Sports Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Citi Sports Online
No Result
View All Result

Kawhi files lawsuit against Nike over ‘Klaw’ logo

Benjamin Nketsia by Benjamin Nketsia
June 5, 2019
Reading Time: 3min read
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Whatsapp

Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard has filed a lawsuit against Nike in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in an attempt to reclaim control over a logo Leonard says he created.

“In 2011, just after being drafted to the National Basketball Association, Kawhi Leonard authored a unique logo that included elements that were meaningful and unique to him,” the lawsuit reads. “Leonard traced his notably large hand, and, inside the hand, drew stylized versions of his initials ‘KL’ and the number that he had worn for much of his career, ‘2.’ The drawing Leonard authored was an extension and continuation of drawings he had been creating since early in his college career.

“Several years later, as part of an endorsement deal with Nike, Leonard allowed Nike to use on certain merchandise the logo he created while Leonard continued to use the logo on non-Nike goods. Unbeknownst to Leonard and without his consent, Nike filed an application for copyright registration of his logo and falsely represented in the application that Nike had authored the logo.”

Leonard addressed the lawsuit briefly while talking with reporters Tuesday ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

“It happened over a long time ago. You guys are just finding out. Not a big worry of mine,” Leonard said.

A Nike spokesperson declined to comment.

The lawsuit goes on to say that Leonard intends to use the “Klaw” logo in various capacities — including clothing lines, footwear and in connection with sports camps and charity functions — but that Nike has objected to his doing so. Leonard, therefore, wants to regain control of the logo, which he created while he was part of Jordan Brand’s stable of athletes.

Since then, though, Leonard became a shoe free agent — before eventually signing a deal with New Balance earlier this season. The Boston-based company has created multiple campaigns involving Leonard this season — one being “Fun Guy,” and another, more recently, being “King of the North,” playing off a phrase from the recently concluded HBO series “Game of Thrones.”

The nine-page lawsuit would, in theory, allow for a new campaign with New Balance sometime in the future — or at the very least would again give Leonard (should he win) control of a logo he says should be his.

The lawsuit goes on to explain, in detail, how Leonard came up with the idea for the logo, which was developed at the start of his rookie season during his lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign with the San Antonio Spurs.

“Leonard is known for his extremely large hands,” the lawsuit reads. “Throughout his career, spectators have noticed Leonard’s large hands and they are often described as contributing to his success as a player.

“Since at least his college years, Leonard contemplated and conceived of ideas for a personal logo which would be unique to him and reflect something meaningful relating to his own image. In late December 2011 or January 2012, Leonard refined a logo he had been creating for several years that encompassed his large and powerful hands, his initials and his jersey number.

“Leonard shared his original work of authorship with family and friends, solicited the advice and expertise of a creative designer, received comments and suggestions, and made modifications to his design.”

Later in the lawsuit, it states Leonard and Nike have gone back-and-forth multiple times over the past several months regarding the use of the logo, with the last correspondence being in March, when Nike told him, “it owns all intellectual property rights in the Leonard Logo and demanding that Leonard immediately cease and desist from what Nike claimed was the unauthorized use of the Leonard Logo.”

Finally, the lawsuit says the goal of the plaintiff is for Leonard to be declared the sole author of the logo; that Leonard’s use of his logo doesn’t interfere with Nike’s rights, including “without limitation any rights Nike may claim to possess with respect to the Leonard Logo”; and that the defendant committed fraud on the Copyright Office in registering the Leonard Logo, along with “any such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.”

Leonard and the Raptors will face the Warriors for Game 3 of the Finals at Oakland’s Oracle Arena on Wednesday night. The series is tied at a game apiece.

Source: ESPN
Share32TweetSend
Previous Post

Christian Eriksen: Tottenham midfielder opens up about future

Next Post

Gianluigi Buffon to leave Paris St-Germain at end of month

Related Posts

News

NSA boss justifies large number of Sports Federations

April 9, 2021
(Source: Ghana FA Communications)
AFCON

“Let us collaborate to win the AFCON”- Sports Minister tells GFA

April 8, 2021
Football

Michael Essien interview: On Chelsea UCL ambitions , Lampard sacking and Tuchel

April 8, 2021
News

Football match abandoned after players, fans chase referee off the pitch [VIDEO]

April 8, 2021
Athletics

GAA hopeful of securing three more Olympic tickets

April 8, 2021
Football

UCL: Mbappe scores twice as PSG shock Bayern in Germany

April 8, 2021
Football

Bashir Hayford livid over increasing intimidation of GHPL match officials

April 7, 2021
Football

FIFA suspends Pakistan, Chad football federations

April 7, 2021
Load More
Next Post
Buffon signed a one-year deal with PSG in July 2018 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Gianluigi Buffon to leave Paris St-Germain at end of month

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top Stories

VIDEO: Benjamin Azamati breaks 22 year old Ghana 100m record to qualify for Tokyo Olympics

How Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates humiliated Michael Essien at Real Madrid

The curious case of Ransford Osei: How misfortune robbed Ghana of a star

See Kudus Mohammed’s beautiful goal for Ghana against South Africa [VIDEO]

RSS Citi Podcasts

  • Auto Show: Learning how to drive and licensing April 8, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • Eyewitness News, Wednesday, 7th April 2021 April 7, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • Auto Show: Talking about the cooling system with Gerald Dugbartey April 1, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • Eyewitness News, Wednesday, 31st March 2021 March 31, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • Citi Trends: Starting a tech business in a niche field during the pandemic March 31, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • Auto Show: Brake system March 30, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • The Big Issue: Saturday, 27th March, 2021 March 27, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • Fam Life, Saturday, 27th March, 2021 March 27, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • Heritage Month on-air series: The Afro-Brazilians in Ghana (the Tabom/Agudas) March 25, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
  • Heritage Month on -air series - Ga Women And Their Contribution To The Economy March 25, 2021 Citi 97.3 FM
Citi Sports Online

© 2019 Citi Sports Online

  • Home
  • News
  • Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos

© 2019 Citi Sports Online

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In