He now has a sponsorship deal with competitor New Balance and wants to use his "Klaw" logo … The depiction, known as the Klaw logo, appeared on Leonard’s Nike apparel, the Business Journal reported.
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. "In legal terms, the question is whether Nike's "Klaw" logo is transformative or derivative. We're talking millions of revenue from this logo on merchandise. Nike countersued Leonard, saying the logo …
Kawhi Leonard files lawsuit against Nike to get control of his ‘Klaw’ logo.
and his No. Last week, the New York Times reported that the …
In 2018, Leonard left Nike and is now under contract with New Balance. In fact, in May of 2017 the company applied for and was granted a copyright registration for the logo.
(Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
Around the same time, Leonard signed an endorsement deal with Nike to provide "personal services and expertise in the sport of professional basketball and endorsement of the Nike brand and use of Nike products. Leonard has filed a federal lawsuit against Nike, claiming it wrongfully copyrighted the distinguished "Klaw" logo that appeared on his apparel while … "The grey zone comes in when you have to decide whether or not the new version is sufficiently transformative from the old version to be entitled to a new copyright," Richter says. "From a copyright perspective, there's an expert graphic designer that might say that you know 100 hours of work went into changing it from that to that. Comments on this story are moderated according to ourIt is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges.Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered onThe lawsuit filed this week by Kawhi Leonard against Nike, which centres around the Toronto Raptors star's "Klaw" logo, comes down to one key question: Does the sneaker giant's design simply build off of Leonard's or is it a new design?Kawhi Leonard's suit against Nike over 'Klaw' logo falls into grey zoneRaptors' Kawhi Leonard sues Nike over rights to 'Klaw' logoRaptors forward Kawhi Leonard says he's been aware of his federal lawsuit against Nike for sometime and it won't be a factor during the NBA finals.
Throughout his career spectators have noticed Leonard's large hands and they are often described as contributing to his success as a basketball player. Other evidence strengthened the view that Nike created the logo (as registered with the copyright office). By Kurt Helin Jun 3, 2019, 7:58 PM EDT. The lawsuit is Leonard's side of how the Klaw logo came to be.
"The logo is incredibly valuable, especially when you're talking about an NBA superstar. "Mariam Richter is a Florida attorney who specializes in trademark and copyright law. He says that he had been working on the design as far back as college, when he was a star at San Diego State.
Nike contends it not only owns the logo but created it. It's not the original drawing that Leonard did himself. "There is a lot at stake. "In late 2011, after consulting with friends and family and seeking the advice of professional designers, Leonard says he settled on a final Klaw design. "Since at least his college years, he has contemplated and conceived of ideas for a personal logo which would be unique to him and reflect something meaningful relating to his own image," Leonard's lawsuit contends.The claim explains that Leonard is "known for his extremely large hands.
In fact, the lawsuit says Nike continued to refer to the design as "Kawhi's logo" in numerous written communications.In 2017, according to the lawsuit, Nike "applied for a copyright registration of his logo and falsely represented in the application that Nike was the author of the logo. "The thinking is the acquisition would be part of the team's free-agent pitch to Leonard this summer.To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). The question is, is it transformative or derivative? We've received your submission.Kwahi Leonard is fighting off more than just the Warriors.Leonard, now the face of New Balance, asserts he designed the logo that was rendered moot when he declined to extend his contract with Nike.The suit was filed in Southern California, and emerges less than a week after the New York Times revealed the Los Angeles Clippers — long rumored to land the coveted 27-year-old as a free agent this summer — Such a move would have likely been seen as tampering by the NBA, which fined the franchise $50,000 after Clippers coach Doc Rivers fawned over Leonard during an ESPN appearance.“Wouldn’t you feel bad he got fined because of that,” Leonard’s Raptors are tied with the Warriors at a game apiece as the series shifts to Oakland. Leonard sued Nike last June, alleging the company had copyrighted his personal ‘Klaw’ logo, which he said he created in college. Thus, the intellectual property rights attached to the ‘Klaw’ logo would vest in Nike only.
Nike alleges the "Klaw" logo design was developed while Kawhi Leonard was a member of its Jordan Brand. "Richter says it can often be difficult to spot subtle but important differences. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Nike submitted an article published in 2014 whereby Leonard states (in relation to the final logo):
She says that usually in cases like this, the financial opportunity for athletes to capitalize on a logo or a phrase is fleeting.
Does that make it transformative?
In the lawsuit, Leonard contends that he never transferred rights of the "Leonard logo" to Nike. Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Thanks for contacting us. "I think it's clear that Nike's graphics people came up with it.