Kawhi Leonard Sues Nike Over "Klaw" Logo Use: Report

BYAron A.Updated on September 26, 202210.4K Views

Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reacts against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter during Game One of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on May 30, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

The Toronto Raptors star claims they stole his design without proper authorization.

Nike's facing a federal lawsuit filed by the Toronto Raptors player Kawhi Leonard who claims the sportswear company used his logo without permission. Kawhi said that his famous "Klaw" logo was created in 2011 after he was drafted in the NBA, but he claims Nike copyrighted the logo without his consent, the Portland Business Journal reports.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1135666257041211392

Kawhi had a deal with Nike's Jordan brand when he first got drafted to the NBA which said that he “allowed Nike to use on certain merchandise the logo he created while Leonard continued to use the logo on non-Nike goods.” However, he claims that Nike went behind his back to file an application for the copyright to his logo "and falsely represented in the application that Nike had authored the logo.”

Kawhi said that he traced his hand and added his initials to it as well as his jersey number. He said that he wanted to use the logo for “clothing lines, footwear and on other products and, among other things, in connection with sports camps and charity functions, but Nike explicitly has objected to such uses.”

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He requested that the judge set forth that he's the owner of the logo and to determine that the sportswear brand “committed fraud on the Copyright Office."

The New York Times previously reported that the L.A. Clippers, who are reportedly trying to sign Kawhi Leonard, have attempted to purchase a portion of the rights to the logo

[Via]

About The Author

Aron A.

Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.