The illegal sale of counterfeit NFL Super Bowl merchandise is such a problem that the merchandising and licensing arm of the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots took the issue to court, according to the SE TexasRecord.
On Jan. 24, State District Court Judge Jeff Shadwick granted the NFL and the participating teams a temporary restraining order on unauthorized sales of Super Bowl merchandise. All three claimants participated in the court filings on fears they “will suffer immediate, continuous and irreparable injury, loss and damage,” as a result of unauthorized sales, according to the SE TexasRecord.
“This court is further of the opinion that the plaintiffs have shown that notice need not be given because vendors and manufacturers of counterfeit NFL merchandise and tickets have no business identity before or after the Super Bowl LI week and/or cannot be identified, located, or notified of the request for a temporary restraining order, an order for seizure, and a writ of sequestration, and if so notified would flee with the counterfeit merchandise and counterfeit tickets,” the 23-page order said.
The filings did not say what the punishment would be for counterfeiters, but the court order should result in decreased illegal merchandising.
