You would think after the Kendall and Kylie Jenner T-shirt fiasco that other brands would learn to steer clear of using celebrity images without permission. And yet, we’ve all got a ringside seat for Mike Tyson’s battle against a company called the Boxing Hall of Fame.
According to Consumerist, the company operates out of a Las Vegas strip mall, but it claims to own “one of the world’s largest collections of boxing display memorabilia.”
Tyson filed a lawsuit in Nevada claiming that Boxing Hall of Fame violated Tyson’s trademark by selling merchandise with his likeness and Iron Mike nickname.
The problem lies in the implied trademark of a nickname. While Tyson has a trademark of his own name, “Iron Mike” is not registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. But, the general public knows that this is Tyson’s nickname.
Tyson also claims that Boxing Hall of Fame entered into agreements with Macy’s and Urban Outfitters to sell these products, even though they are not officially licensed.
The lawsuit is looking settle this measure through a trial by jury.
As we’ve learned in the past, you have to make sure you’ve crossed off all legal prerequisites before using a celebrity’s likeness, image or name on a product.
