Quote:
Originally Posted by Law
Ahh, here's where things will get murky. Reebok's NFLPA deal expired on March 1st (I assume Nike took over that day?), but Nike's deal with the NFL itself doesn't start until April 1st (I assume Reebok's ends that day).
While Reebok may have been completely within their rights to sell a #15 Jets jersey, can they sell a 'Tebow' jersey without a deal with the PA?
http://adage.com/article/adages/nike...campaign=adage |
No. Producing any type of player merchandise requires approval of the PA, whether that's for an order of 20,000 player keychains or 144 player shirts. For the most part, it's a basic rubber-stamping process, but the approval is absolutely needed.
Reebok wouldn't be allowed to either produce themselves, or commission someone else to produce for them, anything with a player name (or, I believe, associated number even without a name) without an NFLPA license. If Nike is able to demonstrate that Reebok flooded the marketplace illegally to stick it to them, I'd expect a judgment in the tens of millions of dollars...this would be for lost revenues for Nike, as well as a stiff penalty for a huge company like this having illegally produced merchandise.
If I remember correctly, a very small number of companies can produce without a license, with certain stipulations. If it's a company that's in the final license approval process, I think there can be a waiver granted that allows for earlier production (if there's a time crunch)...I think a team may directly order something themselves and then settle up with the PA later. Even then, it would require that a commissioned licensee be in good standing...I don't think that would apply here.
