Russell Okung, All-Pro left tackle, made news by announcing that he had fired his agent and would be negotiating his next contract without agent representation. Okung is set to become a free agent next offseason and figures to have a long list of suitors including his current team, the Seattle Seahawks. Okung says, “I know my worth. […]
Category: Sports Law
ESports, also known as competitive gaming, has gone from an industry mostly featuring amateurs to an industry with professional players and now even includes the creation and maintenance of professional teams. Professional gamers on teams may receive a salary, tournament prizes and team sponsors sometimes cover travel expenses as well as gaming hardware. On top of […]
Academic misconduct has been become a major issue for the NCAA and it is considering tougher academic integrity policies in light of recent investigations and scandals. In January 2015, the NCAA announced that it was conducting an investigation on 20 schools, 18 of which being Division I, for academic misconduct. The academic misconduct scandal at the […]
One of the most publicized legal issues in Sports Law today deals with athletes’ right to publicity, and the infringement on these rights by companies seeking to capitalize on player names, images, and likenesses. The elements of a Right of Publicity claim vary from state to state, but there is a good deal of overlap […]
Recently, former San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills linebacker, Shawne Merriman, and his company, Lights Out Holdings, LLC, moved for summary judgment in their fight to prohibit Nike from using or associating with Merriman’s nickname, “Lights Out.” In the motion, Merriman seeks up to $18 million in statutory damages, in addition to attorneys’ fees and […]
Participation in fantasy sports has dramatically increased throughout the years especially with daily fantasy sites like DraftKings and FanDuel providing services to millions of participants every day. Louisiana is one of five states where participating in fantasy sports for money is clearly against the law. Louisiana outlawed gambling by computer in 1997, which would include participating […]
Transactions in the equine industry often involve animals worth thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. These transactions get especially daunting in the world of equine sports; the average selling price of a horse at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale – the nation’s premiere Thoroughbred auction – was $130,780, with 18 yearlings selling for $1 […]
HEITNER LEGAL filed the trademark application and handled all necessary follow-up tasks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount. The trademark, ‘Blount Force Trauma’ has received full registration on the principal register. Blount will be able to move forward with federal protection when he uses the phrase […]
DraftKings, Inc., the largest U.S.-based destination for daily fantasy sports, today unveiled Daily Fantasy MMA, the biggest daily fantasy contest for mixed martial arts. The company also announced an exclusive marketing partnership with light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones. To celebrate the launch, DraftKings is offering its players a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime experience […]
Popular sports commentator Bill Raftery is well known for his use of flamboyant words and phrases on the air. The most popular of said words and phrases include “Onions” and “With a Kiss.” When Raftery came to HEITNER LEGAL inquiring whether he could seek trademark protection of each, HEITNER LEGAL quickly got to work regarding […]