NFL prepared to get involved in New York Jets Tim Tebow's battle with T-shirt manufacturer - NFL News
A T-shirt company on the receiving end of a legal cease-and-desist letter from New York Jets quarterback, Tim Tebow, has as of now refused to comply with the demand and now the National Football League (NFL) is set to get involved itself in this case.
According to ProFootballTalk.com well placed sources have revealed that the NFL will initiate its own legal case against the T-shirt manufacturer CubbyTees.com over the alleged use of Tim Tebow’s and the Jets intellectual property to market its product.
The bone of contention is a T-shirt being marketed by the manufacturer with the words “My Jesus” superimposed on a background resembling the Jets logo.
Tebow’s lawyers argue that the manufacturer has illegally used Tebow’s name to market the T-shirt and its sales pitch falsely shows that the quarterback has endorsed the product.
The NFL has already sent a cease-and-desist letter to CubbyTees.com according to sources cited by ProFootballTalk.com.
On its part the manufacturer claimed that it was surprised by the string of legal letters it has received and denied having broken any copyright laws regarding its T-shirt.
CubbyTees.com in an email sent to the Associated Press has also declined to stop manufacturing the T-shirt and are ready to face off against Tebow in court if required.
"We are artists and have no desire to trespass on anyone's legitimate intellectual property rights, but we also will not roll over and sacrifice ours,"
The main issue for the lawyers it seems is the marketing pitch used by the website to promote the T-shirt. Even though the apparel does not mention the quarterback’s name or the Jets franchise its marketing pitch on the side mentions those names which Tebow’s lawyers argue seems to make the T-shirt look as if it has been endorsed by the hugely popular football player.
CubbyTees on the other hand argues that its apparel is “legally sound” and “positive and innocuous”.
This case will likely go to court for settlement of the dispute as both parties do not seem to be ready to step down from their positions.
As of now no legal action has been taken by both parties over the case and more developments are expected in the coming days.
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