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Michael Jordan wins part of his name back in China trademark suit

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BEIJING: Basketball mega-star Michael Jordan won part of his trademark suit against a China-based sportswear company on Thursday, following a years-long struggle for control over the rights to his Chinese name.


In a ruling by the Chinese Supreme Court, Qiaodan Sports Co, based in southeastern Fujian province, must stop using the Chinese characters “Qiaodan” on its merchandise, according to a transcript of court records posted on an official website.


The word is a Chinese rendering of the athlete’s name widely known by the country’s consumers.


The supreme court did not stop the company from using phonetic spellings of Jordan’s Chinese name using the English alphabet, however, saying that they do not infringe on his right to use his name in the country.


“I am happy that the Supreme People’s Court has recognized the right to protect my name through its ruling in the trademark cases,” Jordan said in a statement provided by his Chinese representative. “Today’s decision ensures that my Chinese fans and all Chinese consumers know that Qiaodan Sports and its products have no connection to me.”


The former Chicago Bull asked Chinese authorities in 2012 to revoke the Chinese company’s trademarks, which featured a similar name and logo to Jordan’s Nike-produced brand. The six-time NBA champion accused the Chinese company of misleading consumers about its ties to him by using the name along with a silhouette of a leaping basketball player resembling the ‘Jumpman’ logo used by Nike to promote its Air Jordan brand. — AFP


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