Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Baseball Glove Brouhaha in Court

ST. LOUIS (CN) - In a rhubarb between baseball heavyweights, Rawlings sued Wilson in Federal Court, claiming that the glove Wilson made for Cincinnati Reds' second baseman Brandon Phillips violates Rawlings' Gold Glove trademark.

St. Louis-based Rawlings Sporting Goods created the Gold Glove Award in 1957 to recognize defensive excellence in Major League Baseball. It is given annually to one player at each position in the National and American Leagues. Gold Glove winners also get a special Rawlings baseball glove "that includes metallic gold indicia on the glove itself," according to the federal complaint.

Rawlings claims that Wilson this year started a promotion in which Brandon Phillips plays baseball with a glove "with metallic gold-colored webbing, stitching and lettering that was manufactured by Wilson."

"Not only is Mr. Phillips using the infringing Wilson glove in the field during games, warm-ups, and practices, but defendant and Mr. Phillips also have promoted the very existence of the glove (and its connection to Wilson) through various channels and media," the complaint states.

Rawlings wants Wilson enjoined from distributing any glove that contains "gold webbing, gold-colored fabrics or leather, gold lettering, gold stitching, any other metallic gold-colored material, or any other features that are confusingly similar" to Rawlings' Gold Glove trademarks. It also seeks damages for trademark infringement, unfair competition, trademark dilution and false advertising.

Rawlings is represented by Gary Pierson, with Husch Blackwell.

Wilson is the lone defendant. Phillips is not a party to the complaint.

Follow @@joeharris_stl
Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...