Michael Jordan Sues Qiaodan Over Like Sounding Name

Jordan. Qiaodan. One English, one Chinese, these two words are not spelled alike, but if you say it aloud, they sound awfully similar. Michael Jordan is involved in another lawsuit protecting the rights to his name and basketball identity. This time, instead of suing national grocery stores (as happened last week), Jordan is suing a Chinese company that he says has capitalized on his name.
Qiaodan Sports, located in Fujian province, has apparently made a living through its use of the Qiaodan name -- Jordan's name as commonly known in basketball-crazed China claimed in the Michael Jordan lawsuit, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Don't mistake Qiaodan Sports for some small fly-by-night outfit that produces counterfeit products. According to the Tribune, Qiaodan is a major business with recent deals to be the Olympic partner of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. In addition, it became the Olympic partner of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Jordan filed the lawsuit in China and says that the company used his name, number, and even the names of his children without permission.

Generally, someone owns the rights to their name, likeness, and persona and can profit from their name as they see fit. This right of publicity is granted in most state laws as well as federal law. On the other hand, it's not clear what obligation companies incorporated in other countries and doing business in other countries have in following U.S. law.

In the Michael Jordan lawsuit, the basketball legend says that a Chinese company is profiting from his Chinese name Qiaodan. Even if it is, it's not sure what rights Jordan has to Qiaodan.

Related Resources:

Find a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney (FindLaw)
Michael Jordan Sues Chinese Sportswear Company (The Wall Street Journal)
Invasion of Privacy (FindLaw)

The Chicago Personal Injury Law Blog

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