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Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips has won three Gold Gloves, but there is a legal issue surrounding the gold-trimmed glove that he actually wears on the field. The entire name of the annual honor, bestowed upon players voted by the league’s managers to have superior fielding skills at their respective positions, is actually the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. However, Wilson Sporting Goods sponsors Phillips, and to commemorate his Gold Glove awards, Wilson actually provided Phillips with a physical, usable gold glove—featuring gold-colored webbing, stitching and lettering. On July 6, 2012, Rawlings filed suit against Wilson (not Phillips), alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition, trademark dilution and false advertising. The federal court is going to have to determine how likely it is that average people associate the Gold Glove award with Rawlings. This case could teach many business owners the importance of legally protecting trademarks long before they have the opportunity to be diluted. Robert G. Klein Klein Trial Lawyers
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cincinnati reds, brandon phillips, rawlings gold glove award, wilson sporting goods,
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