Mully and Hanley Show - Written by 670 The Score on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 5:33 - 5 Comments

Michael Jordan sues Jewel, Dominick’s

The next time local grocers Jewel and Dominick’s want to salute an accomplishment by Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan, they might want to just send him a card instead.

Jordan, who led the Bulls to six championships and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last September, filed lawsuits Monday against both grocery store chains for two separate ads celebrating the living legend that Jordan considers an infringement on his trademark and business interests.

The full-page ads ran in a special commemorative issue of Sports Illustrated magazine dedicated to Jordan and his career.

Both suits, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, claim the ads, each congratulating Jordan on his long list of achievements, were actually clever and unauthorized ways of linking the former league-leading scorer to their stores.

In the Dominick’s ad, for example, the top half of the ad congratulates Jordan and features his trademark number, 23, while the bottom features a coupon on a Rancher’s Reserve steak, a trademark of Dominick’s parent company, Safeway.

Jordan was never contacted about the ad and would never be associated with the Dominick’s steaks, as it would conflict with steakhouses and a direct-mail steak business Jordan has lent his name to, the suit states.

In the Jewel ad, a pair of Jordan’s Air Jordan basketball shoes with number 23 on the tongues sit below a message of support that ends with Jewel’s “just around the corner” slogan.

Officials at both Jewel and Dominick’s couldn’t be reached for comment. Jordan’s longtime attorney, Fred Sperling, declined to comment.

The suits seek unspecified damages, attorney fees and to bar either store from using Jordan’s name in future ads.



5 Comments

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dave
Dec 22, 2009 6:02

who gives a ****!

George Oscar Bluth
Dec 22, 2009 7:36

How dare MJeff protect his intellectual property rights? Jeez, Mully and Hanley have got to be setting records for arrogant traditional media horse-puckey analysis this week.

Chet’s Inflated Ego
Dec 22, 2009 7:48

You are right GOB, I’m sure that 90% of MJ’s income is linked to his “image” and other intellectual property rights.

BLUECARP
Dec 24, 2009 17:10

MJ is a ****, people pretend he isn’t because he’s probably the best b-ball player ever, but he does have the right to protect his image, and get a piece of any action involving it. merry x-mas to the best show on sports radio, anywhere!!!

Lownoterider
Dec 29, 2009 8:39

It’s his primary source of income. The stores DO benefit from using him in their ads, or they wouldn’t DO IT. MJeff may be a jerk, but he’s just being a judicious businessman in this case…..

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