Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Kawhi Leonard loses ‘Klaw’ lawsuit against Nike

Kawhi Leonard Orlando

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on prior to a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 10, 2020 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBAE via Getty Images

Kawhi Leonard sued Nike over rights to his “Klaw” logo (the one the Clippers reportedly considered buying for him if he signed, which would have been clear salary-cap circumvention).

Maxine Bernstein of The Oregonian:

A federal judge Wednesday rejected NBA star Kawhi Leonard’s claims that Nike unlawfully copyrighted his “Klaw’’ logo.

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman ruled that the logo Nike designers helped create with Leonard marked an “independent piece of intellectual property’’ that was distinct from the original sketch Leonard initially conceived and shared with Nike.


TMZ posted the designs:

This is a rare setback for Leonard, who has dominated the last year.