Michael Jordan Sues Chinese Apparel Company Qiaodan
February 23rd, 2012 by Aaron Hope | 46 comments
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If you ever see an Apple Store that says ‘Apple Store’ on it, don’t go inside unless you’re looking for inferior knockoffs. We’re talking of course about the infamous fake Mac shops in the PRC set up right next to the real deal, a symbol for the rampant piracy that seems to most often go unpunished in the world’s fastest growing economy. So even as insane as it might sound to you that a company would simply translate Michael Jordan’s name and bank off his legend, that’s exactly why MJ is in court against the Chinese apparel brand Qiaodan. The company’s name is a ‘well known’ translation of ‘Jordan’, and they’ve used His Airness’ impeccable image to scale up to $450MM annual revenue as of 2010. Mike seems outraged like any victim of identity theft, explaining the necessity for legal action because “Your name is your DNA, and when someone takes it, I think it’s a violation and you want to protect it.” Click through to see some of the key facts from the case and a video of Michael Jordan himself discussing a foul that’s far from technical. via CBS//TheRealJordan
KEY FACTS OF THE COMPLAINT FILING:
To preserve ownership of his name and protect Chinese consumers from being misled, Michael Jordan filed suit in a Chinese court on February 21, 2012 against Qiaodan Sports Company Limited, a Chinese sportswear and footwear manufacturer, for unauthorized use of his name and identity.
Qiaodan Sports’ misuse of Michael Jordan’s name and identity has misled and continues to mislead consumers. Qiaodan Sports has knowingly profited from this infringement of Michael Jordan’s naming rights.
Under Article 31 of the Trademark Law of the People’s Republic of China, “An application for registration of a trademark shall not create any prejudice to the prior right of another person, nor unfair means be used to pre-emptively register the trademark of some reputation another person has used.” Chinese law further states that a plaintiff is entitled to relief for infringement where “(1) the individual is a famous public figure, (2) the defendant acts in bad faith by intentionally using plaintiff’s name or other personal attributes without authorization, and (3) the use of the plaintiff’s name or other personal attributes damages the plaintiff by causing confusion among consumers who mistakenly associate the infringer, its products or services with the plaintiff.”
Everyone talking bout Chinese Asian knockoffs! Look on the inside of all your kicks you pukes! Not one of them made anywhere else! If you find a good company their quality is ON PAR with anything coming outta them mall stores! I've seen people come out of shoe releases with crooked Jordan stitching, the jumpman looking like a diabetic from oklahoma, some with excessive glue in some areas. So don't act like because it from China or some Asian country that it's garbage. I'm glad MJ gettin his $ from a company tryin to front on his name, but calling the Chinese lazy when they pump out most of the world's consumables is ignorant son! But I wouldn't expect that from someone of your level. #GETEDUCATED STOP DROPPIN OUTTA SCHOOL FOR A RELEASE!
THEM SHITS ARE UGLY FUCK QWEERDAN OR WHAT EVER THAT SHITS CALLED.
I got 66 pairs of Jordans, and I`ll keep on buying the best. Get your $$$ Mike!
I got 66 pairs of Jordans, and I`ll keep on buying the best. Get your $$$ Mike!
i love how everyone is complaining about jordans and their quality when im sure every last one of you has multiple pairs of jordans and gets a massive hard on when you see a new retro is coming out. dont hate on jordans because we all love them, and if you dont then you cant call yourself a true sneaker head
I call this BS......I'm sure Mike knew about this already seeing as though this copycat company has been around for so many years.......Probably the company hasn't been giving Mike/JB/Nike "hush" money as of late and that's why there's a lawsuit.
Shit the public needs to be filing a lawsuit on jordan brand for the horrible ass quality of these J's
He'll sue millions because they're using his logo but he won't say anything to the kids who die trying to buy his shoes over in the US. Mike's got it twisted.
just googled Qiaodan. their main web site looks like a pile. and i saw the Qiaodan shoes! what i now cant get over is how they took in over 450 mill a year? how? wtf?
i agree 100% but i also think this will make jb up their prices even more b/c those who buy the fakes have to contribute to the real jb if they want jays, and if they up the prices theyre gettin more money
If someone was making $450M annually since 2010 off of MY NAME, I would sue too, regardless of how much money I already had.
Couple things. Of course it's about the money for MJ to say it's not is a lie. Also why does he look so damn tired on the time now.
Bet they're made in the same factories. Probably 1/5 of the price as well.
Fuck Nike. im glad to see some company shitting all over nike they way they shit all over us
lol they are all made in china anyway
Mike says he's all about honesty... "Quality Basketball products inspired by the greatest player ever" on the inside of the XI tongue? Sounds pretty honest to me... wait. nope
MJ is just trying to get a chunk of that money. I can't be mad at him for that. His shoes probably have the most knockoffs in history. lol..He needs money cus he's losing it on the WEAKASS Bobcats. (bad move by the way)
so what happened exactly?
Jordan never trademarked the Chinese form of his name that was used when he first became popular in China. That name is Qiaodan (in Chinese this sounds like "Jyawdan" so it's close). This sportswear company came along in the 1980's and in 1998 they changed their name to his Chinese name. Since he never trademarked it, and Nike didn't either, it was fair game. Jordan thinks he can win this lawsuit because it worked for Yao Ming, and some other guy. Personally, I hope he loses. It was his own negligence that created this situation to start with.
*applause*
Ok, you have a huge point there buddy.
MANNNN F**K MICHAEL JORDAN!!!!!! HE DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT HIS CONSUMERS SO WHY SHOULD WE GIVE A FUCK ABOUT HIM LOSING MONEY?!?! NOW HIS BITCH ASS SEE HOW WE FEEL HAVING TO DEAL WITH ALL THESE GOTDAMN RE-SELLERS AND GETTING SHORTED ON PRODUCT!!!!!
Your aktin like MJ got anything to do with resellers he makes a good shoe at a price thats worth the design theres no other shoe like jordans and you pay for that.. foams go for 200 and jordans shit on those...Just cause the shoe you wanted sells out dosent mean you gotta act like a bitch and badmouth a legend he makes shoes and if your get ur hands on em great and if you dont tough tittes thats what you get for not camping out like the rest of us
for real
about time.......
get 'em Mike...hope you shut the bastards down!
We send Jordan to fight the Chinese?
That's what happens when you have sweat shops over seas..... They know how to make the damn shoe and it's characteristics!!!!!
Mj so money hungry. But then again if my ex-wife took mad money from me, my gambling depts were high, and my future wife and there family was making good off me shit I'd sue too.
hahaha you are such a funny guy
If your stupid ass read any articles on the subject, Jordan said he would reinvest any money from the lawsuit to grow the sport of basketball in China...I'm getting really tired of reading your ignorant comments on this site
Lmao ! I Love This Comment
Ok if you really want to blow me should of just asked. MJ wouldn't do shit but try to reclaim back all the profits that were made by that fake corporation. I'm glad to see I have a fan and because of you I'm keep leaving comments.
OK, he has the right to do that, cause, THAT'S HIS DAMN NAME AND HIS MONEY. You can't go around and take people's name like you have a RIGHT to do that. I will sue the hell out of you.
Sounds like MJ will be getting even RICHER.
wow. JB gets even more money.. let's see if it goes towards some better quality
Jordan getting fat. Must be the money people paying for them low quality Jays that have been dropping.
They wasn't with mike when he was shooting in the gym.
You damn right.
protect Chinese consumers from being misled = stop the flow of money that should be going back into my pockets
If aint about money why we wasting timeeeee
China upto it's old tricks again ..... so whats new ... typical
Bout Time! damn.
SMH damn you Chinese and your laziness
Damn your ignorance and stupidity, AND the c*ck that spurted the jizz into an even stupider receptive vadge so you can exist today.