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re: Manziel files lawsuit citing copyright infringement of name Johnny Football
Posted on 2/23/13 at 3:45 pm to HarryBalzack
Posted on 2/23/13 at 3:45 pm to HarryBalzack
Replica jerseys without the names are irrelevant to the discussion. As you said, the schools have the license--something the athlete and family understand from the outset.
But here, we're talking about products that aren't licensed by TAMU. No other player generates the type of demand for his likeness that Johnny does. That's kind of why he's the only one consistently dealing with bootleggers.
If another player was equally exciting with an equally perfect nickname, he'd be doing the exact same thing. But there's never been another. Ever.
Sure, other really good players had nicknames, but there's never been a player whose moniker was as ubiquitously used as Johnny Football. There is no precedent here. The closest we have is Honey Badger, who, with LSU, threatened legal action. But his brand vanished almost overnight, and it was never as strong as Johnny's.
But here, we're talking about products that aren't licensed by TAMU. No other player generates the type of demand for his likeness that Johnny does. That's kind of why he's the only one consistently dealing with bootleggers.
If another player was equally exciting with an equally perfect nickname, he'd be doing the exact same thing. But there's never been another. Ever.
Sure, other really good players had nicknames, but there's never been a player whose moniker was as ubiquitously used as Johnny Football. There is no precedent here. The closest we have is Honey Badger, who, with LSU, threatened legal action. But his brand vanished almost overnight, and it was never as strong as Johnny's.
This post was edited on 2/23/13 at 3:48 pm
Posted on 2/23/13 at 3:50 pm to HarryBalzack
quote:
quote:
Find me a McCarron jersey or a Mettenberger jersey or a Murray jersey or a T-shirt that has any of those player's names on it for sale from somewhere other than Cafe Press or similar site. They're all very popular players with large fanbases and it should be easy, right? No? Why is that?
Because they are licensed by the university and the proceeds go to the university and the conference, not the individual player.
I believe you missed the point. Those items aren't available anywhere.
Posted on 2/23/13 at 4:08 pm to finestfirst79
What does the "Calm Down" thing even mean?
Posted on 2/23/13 at 4:10 pm to troywew
quote:
What does the "Calm Down" thing even mean?
I'm curious about that myself. He started selling those in November before the 'Bama game and before the hype went over the top. I have no idea.
Posted on 2/23/13 at 4:24 pm to Choctaw
New name, Johnny litigation.
Will start selling shirts next week
Will start selling shirts next week
Posted on 2/23/13 at 4:25 pm to Mizzoufan26
I'm going to go ahead and file for
quote:
Johnny Sophomore Slump
Posted on 2/23/13 at 5:16 pm to Bench McElroy
I hate A&M and Manziel more every day. I hope nothing good for either.
Arrogant pricks the lot of 'em.
Arrogant pricks the lot of 'em.
Posted on 2/23/13 at 5:49 pm to burbank
quote:
Beat writer San Antonio Express news came up with it when he was in HS. Don't think he's thrilled with it, but Family and School are NOT going to let someone else profit from it either.
The beat writer borrowed it from a movie about a kid playing football it'll Texas from the 80's. . The name of the movie was Johnny Be Good. The kid was called Johnny Football. The movie studio that made that movie should sue Manziel if they're still around.
This post was edited on 2/23/13 at 5:51 pm
Posted on 2/23/13 at 5:50 pm to PeaRidgeWatash
quote:
The movie studio that made that movie should sue Manziel if they're still around.
This would be hilarious
Posted on 2/23/13 at 6:08 pm to finestfirst79
That shirt is atrocious.
It's wow bad.
It's wow bad.
Posted on 2/23/13 at 6:17 pm to DWag215
quote:
That shirt is atrocious.
It's wow bad.
Yeah, any lawsuit will likely be dismissed because the judge won't believe anybody would actually buy one. I'm with UGA fan troywew on this: WTH does "Calm Down" mean in this context. And that's all the site is is that one T-shirt. Weird.
Posted on 2/23/13 at 6:17 pm to finestfirst79
quote:
It might be hilarious but neither of you seem to get it. Do you have any doubt who this shirt refers to?
The shirt depicted doesn't refer to anything or anyone, because it's hilariously obvious that the slogan was photoshopped onto the image of the shirt.
Posted on 2/23/13 at 6:20 pm to finestfirst79
Sort of like the "Got Mark" t-shirts that referred to Mark Ingram his senior year. Or the "Hard 2 Beat" t-shirts that easily represented Cam during his reign at Auburn. I'm sure there are hundreds of examples from countless schools.
The big difference is that those players didn't file lawsuits, banking on profiting in the future. It just kinda smells of being an obnoxious prick, and dare I say douchey. You guys really can't see this?
The big difference is that those players didn't file lawsuits, banking on profiting in the future. It just kinda smells of being an obnoxious prick, and dare I say douchey. You guys really can't see this?
Posted on 2/23/13 at 6:26 pm to Bham4Tide
quote:
...and dare I say douchey. You guys really can't see this?
That's not much of a dare. Not to change the subject, but I already thought he was a douche over the Hook'em picture. I had hoped that a (preferably very large) teammate would punch him in the gut and straighten him out, but as that has apparently not happened yet, for me he's still a douche. Doesn't mean I won't pull for him making more incredible plays to help the Aggies, though.
But on this subject I think the non-A&M posters are way off. LSU apparently agrees, though their fans here don't:
LINK
Posted on 2/23/13 at 6:31 pm to Bench McElroy
quote:
Manziel's corporation, JMAN2 Enterprises
He has his own corporation? what a douche...
Posted on 2/23/13 at 6:39 pm to SpartyGator
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He has his own corporation? what a douche...
JMAN2 Enterprises, LLC was set up and is run by JFF's father. The weird thing about all this is I'd put the odds at less than 50% that JFF even knew anything about this before today's shitstorm.
That's not to take away from all the negative posters being completely full of shite: you still are
Posted on 2/23/13 at 6:56 pm to Bench McElroy
I'll never understand why people care so much about a fricking 20 year old. Oh well, haters gonna hate.
Posted on 2/23/13 at 7:11 pm to cramps
quote:
29-24. Gumps mad.
3 crystal footballs in 4 years. you can understand why they'd be mad.
dumbass aggie.
Posted on 2/23/13 at 7:18 pm to Choctaw
quote:
The fact that he trademarked after some local sportswriter gave it to him made him a douche, the fact that he's suing makes him a super douche, the fact that he's taking only online classes because he's just too damn popular and awesome makes him an uber douche.
ETA: I'm not sure what level of douche the JMAN2 Enterprises makes. That may be some new level we have not yet witnessed.
Something is wrong as we are in complete agreement. My parents never would've let anything like this fly, ever.
JMAN2 is laughable.
What is also funny is the amount of people who don't own a business or have never been sued or in court spouting off at the mouth about trademarks. All you college kids with "years of experience" in the real world just need to stop talking.
He can certainly go after every single person making money off his name kinda like Metallica did on Napster. Yet that ended horribly for Metallica even though they "won" legally. You sure as hell don't go suing people for these issues and if you do you've clearly never been in a lawsuit before.
Way to many reasons to list how horrible his family and the JM brand are becoming. It's not my money or fame therefore let him do as he pleases but this is just bad, period.
This post was edited on 2/23/13 at 7:27 pm
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