Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has taken his aggressive spirit from the soccer discipline to the authorized area – this time concentrating on NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a dispute over the rights to make use of the quantity 8 as a trademark.
In line with filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Workplace, Jackson has formally opposed Earnhardt Jr.’s try and register a model of the quantity 8 – a transfer that would impression branding rights throughout a variety of attire and merchandise. The authorized motion, which was first reported by trademark lawyer Josh Gerben, marks Jackson‘s second such problem in latest months. He beforehand filed an identical objection to Troy Aikman’s try and trademark the phrase “EIGHT” in connection together with his beer model.
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Jackson’s “Period 8” model on the heart of authorized tussle
On the coronary heart of Jackson‘s case is Period 8, the NFL MVP’s private life-style and sportswear model, which options the quantity prominently. Jackson has utilized for emblems masking a broad array of merchandise, together with athletic clothes, baggage, and sports activities gear. The priority, based on his submitting, is that Earnhardt Jr.’s use of a stylized quantity 8 might create confusion within the market and “falsely indicate a connection between the 2 athletes.”
Whereas Earnhardt Jr.’s submitting consists of the long-lasting, racing-inspired design most related together with his NASCAR profession, Jackson‘s opposition particularly targets a extra generic model of the quantity, which he believes conflicts together with his personal branding efforts.
Trademark lawyer Josh Gerben weighed in on the rising dispute:
“Not one of the athletes are more likely to achieve unique management over the standalone quantity 8-a generally used and extremely diluted image on this planet of sports activities and merchandise,” he mentioned.?”Finally, Jackson, Aikman, and Earnhardt Jr. will doubtless all get their registrations and coexist on the trademark register, every with barely completely different branding approaches.”
From gridiron to courtroom: Jackson defends his quantity
This is not the primary time the No. 8 has sparked off-field drama. Final summer season, Jackson’s submitting in opposition to Troy Aikman’s “EIGHT” beer model led to a light-hearted response from the previous Cowboys quarterback, who urged settling the matter “over a few beers.”
It stays to be seen whether or not Earnhardt Jr. will provide a equally humorous reply – or if the dispute accelerates right into a drawn-out authorized battle. Both method, Jackson‘s transfer indicators a transparent message: he is critical about defending the id and worth of his quantity, each on and off the sphere.
As branding continues to play an more and more essential position for athletes constructing their empires past the sport, trademark clashes like this are more likely to change into extra widespread.
For now, followers can be watching intently to see how this authorized race over the No. 8 performs out.
