According to TSN’s Rick Westhead, one of the best to cover the business side of the game, Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment is in a bit of a legal scrap with the acclaimed artist.
Mr. Dogg (real name Calvin Broadus Jr), was planning to launch a lie of marijuana products called “Leafs by Snoop”. MLSE, however, isn’t up for sharing the name “Leafs” with anyone.
From the article:
Christopher Sprigman, an intellectual properties professor at the New York University School of Law, said MLSE might make several arguments against Snoop’s trademark.
MLSE might argue that the Leafs By Snoop logo causes confusion in the market place, Sprigman said.
“The Maple Leafs might say that their brand has been tarnished by confusion over Snoop’s new logo,”
Sprigman said MLSE might also argue that its logo meets the requirement for fame under U.S. trademark protections. But that, too, would be difficult, he said.
“.....I really don’t see the Leafs being a familiar brand in Iowa or Arkansas or other non-hockey cities.”
Head to TSN for the full story.