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On Tuesday, October 26, 2021, Cleveland Roller Derby filed suit against the Cleveland Guardians Baseball Company, LLC, which is the entity formerly known as the Cleveland Indians Baseball Company, over its intent to rebrand the baseball team as the Cleveland Guardians. According to Cleveland Roller Derby’s complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, there cannot be two Cleveland Guardian teams in Cleveland, and it was the first. As a result, it is seeking an injunction precluding the baseball team from using the trademark. According to Cleveland Roller Derby, a non-profit entity, despite being valued at over $1 billion, the baseball team is trying to bulldoze the roller derby team’s superior trademark rights to the Guardians name.…
Continue Reading Baseball Versus Roller Derby – Cleveland’s Battle for the Guardians Trademark

In this episode of the Briefing by the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss a Copyright dispute between professional Basketball player, Terry Rozier III and holiday product retailer, Easter Unlimited, over his use of the iconic ghost mask from the horror film, “Scream.”…
Continue Reading The Briefing – Don’t Scream: Copyright Infringement Case Finds for “Scary Terry” Rozier

In this week’s episode of the Briefing by the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss the Cleveland Indian’s attempt to rebrand as the Cleveland Guardians, and the complications that arose surrounding that trademark.…
Continue Reading Could a Trademark Search Have Saved ‘The Cleveland Indians’ Botched Rebrand?

The Los Angeles Clippers and Intuit have entered into a 23-year naming rights agreement whereby the Clippers have agreed to name their new $1.8 billion arena in Inglewood, California, the Intuit Dome. The arena is currently under construction just south of the new SoFi Stadium and the Hollywood Park development. It is scheduled to open in 2024.…
Continue Reading Los Angeles Clippers and Intuit Enter into 23-Year Naming Rights Agreement and Name the New Arena in Inglewood Intuit Dome

Last month the District Court for the Central District of California granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment in the case San Diego Gulls Hockey Club, LLC v ECHL, Inc.. The league’s win resolves the league’s potential indemnity obligation to the hockey team, the Gulls.  This case presents a cautionary story for transactional attorneys.…
Continue Reading Gulls Hockey Team Gets Wings Clipped In IP Dispute With Hockey League