NBA-TNT Matching Rights, PRIME Olympic Lawsuit, Odell Verdict, #8 QB Trademark Opp, & Johnson v. NCAA Update
On this episode of Conduct Detrimental: THE Sports Law Podcast, Dan Lust (@SportsLawLust) and Mike Kravchenko (Find him on YouTube) are joined by Bobby Hartwick (@BobbyHartwick) to bring you the latest updates in sports law as we find ourselves with yet another a jam-packed week across the board.
The trio dives into the NBA-TNT matching rights drama. Warner Bros., the parent company of TNT, recently exercised its matching rights on one of the deals proposed for the NBA's broadcasting rights. This move has sparked a debate about whether TNT can truly match the streaming services like Amazon Prime. Dan explains the potential legal and contractual hurdles, including the possibility of arbitration, and the implications for the NBA's broadcasting landscape.
Next, they cover the new lawsuit filed by the Olympic and Paralympic Committee against PRIME, the energy drink owned by Logan Paul and KSI. The lawsuit claims PRIME infringed on the committee's trademarks by using phrases and symbols associated with the Olympics, such as "three-time Olympic gold medalist" and "repping Team USA." The trio discusses the legal intricacies of trademark enforcement and the potential repercussions for Prime.
Odell Beckham Jr.'s recent legal battle with Nike also gets attention. Despite Beckham's celebratory social media post claiming victory, Nike's statement asserts that all of Beckham's claims were decided against him without any monetary award. This confusing narrative underscores the importance of clear legal communications and the broader implications for athlete endorsement deals.
The conversation then shifts to a humorous yet important trademark dispute between Lamar Jackson and Troy Aikman over the word "eight." Jackson blocked Aikman's attempt to trademark "eight," claiming potential consumer confusion with his own trademarks like "Era 8" and "You 8 Yet." The group discusses the complexities of trademark law in sports and the likelihood of a coexistence agreement.
Bobby shares his insights into the Johnson vs. NCAA case as Trey Johnson, a former Villanova football player, along with other student-athletes, filed a class action lawsuit against the NCAA and several universities, arguing they should be classified as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that student-athletes could potentially qualify as employees, which could have major financial and compliance implications for colleges. The case was remanded to the district court to apply the new economic realities test, setting a precedent for evaluating student-athletes' employment status.
Mike shares his excitement for Netflix's upcoming "Untold" documentary series, which includes episodes on the Michigan sign-stealing scandal and other intriguing sports stories. Bobby recommends watching the Giants' "Hard Knocks" series for its in-depth look at front office operations and player evaluations, wrapping up a packed episode of sports law updates and insights.
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*** As always, this episode is sponsored by Themis Bar Review: https://www.themisbarsocial.com/conductdetrimental
Host: Dan Lust (@SportsLawLust)
Featuring and Produced by: Mike Kravchenko (Watch on YouTube)
Guest: Bobby Hartwick (@BobbyHartwick)
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