Lebron V Game Plan
Lebron V Game Plan
Lebron V Game Plan
v.
COMPLAINT AND
UNINTERRUPTED LLC DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
1575 N. Gower Street
Suite 150
Los Angeles, CA 90028
NIKE INC.
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, Oregon 97005-6453
Defendants.
The Plaintiff, Game Plan, Inc. (“Game Plan”), as and for its Complaint against
COMPANY doing business as ESPN, Inc. (“ESPN”), and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
(“NBA 2K”) (collectively “the Defendants”), by and through undersigned counsel, hereby
alleges as follows:
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1. Game Plan brings this claim against the named Defendants for the Defendants’
unauthorized use of the Plaintiff’s U.S. Registered Trademark 5,487,497. This action
encompasses the following claims: (1) Trademark Infringement under the Lanham Act, 15
U.S.C. § 1114 et seq.; (2) false Designation of Origin under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §
1125(a); (3) Trademark Dilution under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §1125(c); (4) unfair
competition; and (5) unjust enrichment. Game Plan seeks injunctive and other equitable relief
and damages against Defendants who respectively operate and control a media content
clothing (Nike), a production and media broadcasting company (ESPN), and a videogaming and
virtual arts company (NBA 2K). The claims asserted in this Complaint arise under the Lanham
PARTIES
duly organized under the laws of the State of Maryland, having its headquarters and principal
place of business in Bowie, Maryland. Game Plan is dedicated to enhancing, informing, and
educating the youth to ascend through the ranks of high school and college athletics and
academics in order to attain professional level success whether in sports or otherwise. Game
Plan is providing their products and services to a population that does not have the same access
as others to the information and resources Game Plan provides. Game Plan is able to provide
this information through guest speakers and written programming to help the youth attain the
company, organized under the State laws of Delaware, with its principal place of business in Los
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Angeles, California with an additional office, in New York, New York, as it provides media
corporation, located in Beaverton, Oregon, as it manufactures and sells product and services
internationally.
the Walt Disney Company, which is a corporation, with its principal place of business in Bristol,
2K, is a corporation, with its principal place of business in New York, New York, as it provides
7. The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1331 (federal question), and 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a) (trademarks) because this action arises out of
Defendants’ violation of 15 U.S.C. §1114, 1125 and 15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq. (The Lanham Act).
Additionally, the Court has subject matter jurisdiction over Game Plan’s claims for unfair
competition and unjust enrichment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367. Furthermore, this Court has
authority in this matter under diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 because the
parties are citizens of different states and more than $75,000 is in controversy.
8. Personal jurisdiction over the Defendants is proper because each has carried on a
continuous and systematic part of its general business within the District of Columbia, including
but not limited to promoting media content (Uninterrupted, NIKE, ESPN, NBA 2K), retail
are accessible by anyone in the District of Columbia and the world, and each would reasonably
expect to be subject to the jurisdiction of the District. Upon information and belief, these
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websites have been accessed in the District of Columbia for commercial purposes, including
some of the Defendants work product being within the District. For example, Nike runs two
9. Upon information and belief, Uninterrupted, by and through its founder, LeBron
James, saw the use of the mark by Game Plan while in the District of Columbia, as well as
Uninterrupted streaming and sharing content over cable systems and the worldwide web creating
10. NBA 2K is a videogame played by consumers, using Game Plan’s mark, in the
District of Columbia.
11. ESPN aired the media content using Game Plan’s mark in the District of
Columbia.
12. The Court has personal jurisdiction pursuant to the District of Columbia long-arm
statute, D.C. Code § 13-423 (2020), because, among other things, the Defendants have transacted
13. Venue is proper in the District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)-(3) and 28 U.S.C.
§ 1391(d) because a substantial part of the events giving rise to Game Plan’s claims has occurred
in this judicial district, because a substantial occurrence in the infringement of the mark was
situated in this judicial district, and because a substantial part of the harm caused by the
Defendants has occurred in this judicial district. Defendants have conducted business and have
utilized instrumentalities located in the District of Columbia to carry out the acts which Game
Plan complains; and the Defendants have utilized customers located in the District of Columbia
14. Venue is proper in this judicial district under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c) because
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15. An actual, present and justiciable case or controversy has arisen between the
parties. The Defendants have each made use of Game Plan’s mark, to sell products and or
services in the District based on information and belief, and the wide range of retail access and
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Game Plan’s Services, Product and Reputation were harmed by the Defendants
16. Defendants, through their infringing activities of counterfeit, copy, and colorable
imitation of the Plaintiff’s mark, knowingly put goods and services into the stream of commerce
as media production, videogaming, and the retail of clothing and clothing bearing a counterfeit,
copy, and or colorable imitation of the Plaintiff’s mark. These actions have caused a likelihood
of confusion, mistake, and deception and continue to cause irreparable injury to Game Plan, its
17. The Defendants have each used the Plaintiff’s trademark, or a counterfeit, copy
enrich the lives of America’s youth by providing information, education, and access to resources
to allow their participants in their program to have an opportunity to successfully ascend from
19. Game Plan developed its “1st Place” affirmation (or mantra) to begin and close
each education curriculum program, as well as using the mantra in presentations, and with the
sale of products including t-shirts bearing the logo and word mark “I AM MORE THAN AN
20. These “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE. GP. GAME PLAN” t-shirts were
marketing material for Game Plan and a revenue generator for the non-profit.
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21. Game Plan, Inc. first filed its application for U.S. Trademark Registration on
December 28, 2016, and the mark was registered on June 5, 2018.
22. Game Plan is the owner of the mark: U.S. Registration Number 5,487,497.
23. The logo and word mark “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE GP. GAME
PLAN” were used to identify to the public as the source of its goods and services.
24. Game Plan’s first use in the stream of commerce was October 8, 2017.
25. On October 8, 2017, Game Plan, with its CEO and President, Sam Sesay, and
program participants attended a Washington Wizards basketball game versus the Cleveland
Cavaliers.
26. At the game, the President and CEO, and a group of Game Plan Inc. participants
wore the black t-shirts with large, bold, white font across the front of the t-shirt, which identified
the source of the t-shirt and identified the services of the program.
27. The Game Plan participants were able to meet with Washington Wizards’ All-Star
28. The group wearing the t-shirts were courtside in close proximity to both the
Washington Wizards’ players and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers’ players while the players
29. The Game Plan participants and its President and CEO took pictures with John
30. John Wall signed autographs for the kids and posed for pictures with the kids,
while John Wall’s teammates and opponents warmed up for the game, in close proximity.
31. Game Plan and its participants remained at the game for its entirety, which was a
cool experience for the Game Plan, Inc. organization and its students.
32. The exposure at the game and experience would greatly grow the program and its
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33. The attendance at the game gave Game Plan tremendous exposure, as it was able
to gain attention from John Wall in front of his peers including the (arguably) most famous
athlete in the world, as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, at the time, LeBron James, who did
34. Uninterrupted’s unauthorized use of Game Plan’s mark has harmed and
significantly diminished the ability for Game Plan to operate its business of selling t-shirts in the
stream of commerce and making media and live content production and presentations.
35. On February 16, 2018, following that Washington Wizards and Cleveland
Cavaliers pre-season NBA basketball game, in Washington, D.C., the most popular athlete in the
world took to Instagram to respond to the now infamous “shut up and dribble” comment made by
36. In response to “shut up and dribble,” LeBron James posted a picture to his
Instagram account, capturing a neon light sign bearing the words “I AM MORE THAN AN
ATHLETE.” And, he added a hashtag that read “we will not shut up and dribble.”
37. The February 16, 2018 picture, on LeBron James’s Instagram account, captures a
38. Instagram is a premier social media and marketing platform, where Mr. James
39. This neon light sign got substantial coverage throughout the media when LeBron
40. This media conflict or dispute with news personality Laura Ingraham, gave
LeBron James and Uninterrupted the opportunity to use the mark “I AM MORE THAN AN
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42. Game Plan sent Uninterrupted a cease and desist letter, which Uninterrupted
acknowledged.
46. Nike made t-shirts, hats, hoodies, sweatpants, and a basketball court, among other
things, with the use of “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE” or a version of that phrase.
various outlets owned by EPSN, and to screen a documentary or short series of episodes using
48. The very popular National Basketball Association licensed videogame called
“NBA 2K” also used “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE” in certain features of the
videogame.
49. Game Plan was created in 2015, so that as an independent charitable organization
it could provide information, education, products, and services to young people trying to succeed
in athletics and as academics. Game Plan’s goal is to help the participants achieve their dreams
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50. Game Plan, Inc. is the charitable provider of the media content for education and
51. Game Plan is listed as the owner for the U.S. Trademark Registration Number
5,487,497 , however each of the Defendants have used this mark, or a counterfeit, copy,
or colorable imitation of the mark to sell, market and promote goods and services to profit their
52. Game Plan has invested substantial resources in developing its products and
services. Due to the effectiveness of Game Plan’s marketing, products, and services, Game Plan
has generated substantial goodwill with its customers, consumers, and participants in its
programming, establishing a strong brand and developing the Game Plan name and the “I AM
MORE THAN AN ATHLETE. GP. GAME PLAN” mark within its channels of trade, with sales
of product nationally.
53. Game Plan invested thousands of dollars in building and sustaining substantial
54. Game Plan has a registered trademark representing the quality of its product and
services and its brand, including its 1st Place Affirmation, and common law rights for Game
Plan’s education programming and the “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE” t-shirts with the
55. Game Plan has a 1st Place affirmation or Mantra which incorporates the phrase, “I
organization that was distributed on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. SEE APPENDIX at 6-7.
56. Game Plan was featured in news articles and continues to put on programming in
57. In 2017, Game Plan successfully aligned itself with professional sports
organizations to help the reach and exposure of the Game Plan goods and services.
58. Game Plan sells t-shirts to generate revenue, by selling the t-shirts to the public on
its website gameplaninc.org/buy-now/ and, to all the children that participate in the program.
59. Game Plan provides its programming to schools within the Washington, DC
metro area to provide its goods and services. SEE APPENDIX at 22.
60. Since October 2017, Game Plan has used the mark “I AM MORE THAN AN
ATHELTE GP. GAME PLAN” in the interstate stream of commerce with certain logos bearing
the name as a trademark to identify the goods and identify the organization as the sole source of
61. In addition, Game Plan has continually used and promoted the mark, which the
62. Notwithstanding that Game Plan has made continuous use of the mark, Game
Plan demanded for Uninterrupted to cease and desist from using its mark.
63. Upon information and belief, Uninterrupted, in July 2018, entered into
agreements with ESPN, NIKE, and NBA 2K, among others to use the “I AM MORE THAN AN
ATHLETE” mark.
64. Upon information and belief, NIKE admitted its use of “I AM MORE THAN AN
ATHLETE” is similar to Game Plan’s mark as it was being used for similar products and
services.
65. Upon information and belief, ESPN sought to protect itself against a potential
third-party claim regarding Uninterrupted’s use and ESPN’s use of “I AM MORE THAN AN
ATHLETE.”
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66. Game Plan’s mark was known to the founder of Uninterrupted, LeBron James,
Uninterrupted LLC
67. Uninterrupted was founded by the most famous basketball athlete in the world,
LeBron James.
68. Uninterrupted is a media production company that sells clothing products on its
website.
69. Uninterrupted creates media content by providing the human resources, concepts
70. Uninterrupted sells its content to third parties for distribution or partners with
71. As a way to promote the brand of services for media content production,
Uninterrupted merchandized to market and generate revenue or profits, with third-party made
products that include the wording “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE” and “MORE THAN
AN ATHLETE.”
2017, where a group of Game Plan participants and its President and CEO attended, while each
wore a black “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE” t-shirt, while meeting with John Wall
courtside during pre-game to take pictures as John Wall also spoke to the participants. (See
image below).
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74. Upon information and belief, Uninterrupted went under a rebrand of its business
shortly after the October 8, 2017 basketball game, in November or December of 2017.
Uninterrupted released its new brand, by LeBron James posting a picture of a neon light sign
within Uninterrupted’s office, as a response to Laura Ingraham’s “shut up and dribble” comment.
76. Uninterrupted with the help of the most recognizable athlete in the world and the
most prominent athletic clothing company, and sport media content producer generated revenue
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ATHLETE” on clothing and sold those clothing products on its online store.
78. In July 2018, Uninterrupted with ESPN began production of an audiovisual series
titled, “UNINTERRUPTED’s More than an Athlete” on the subject matter of LeBron James and
his business partners, with the use of the mark “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE.”
79. That ESPN/Uninterrupted series was distributed internationally, which was used
to inform and educate viewers of how LeBron James and his business enterprises have been
80. In August 2018, Uninterrupted partnered or contracted with NIKE to begin the
production and retail of t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, socks and hats, with the use of the mark “I AM
81. At some time after August 2018, Uninterrupted partnered and contracted with
NBA 2K to begin the use of the “I AM MORE THAN AN ATHLETE” mark in connection with
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characters within the NBA 2K videogame production; and, that videogame is and was sold
internationally.
Trademark Infringement under the Lanham Act—15 U.S.C. § 1114 et. Seq.
82. Game Plan incorporates by reference each and every allegation set forth in
83. Defendants have used Game Plan’s trademarks in interstate commerce, including
Game Plan’s federally registered trademark for the word mark “I AM MORE THAN AN
84. By doing so, Defendants are likely to cause confusion, mistake, or deception as to
the origin, sponsorship, or approval of the fake and unauthorized versions of the goods and
85. As a result of their wrongful conduct, Defendants are liable to Game Plan for
86. Game Plan seeks injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages in an
87. As a direct result of Defendants’ actions, Game Plan has suffered and continues to
suffer irreparable harm for which it has no adequate remedy at law, and which will continue
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promote, market, or sell products and services constitutes trademark infringement pursuant to 15
89. Uninterrupted sold t-shirts, other clothing, and media content using Game Plan’s
mark.
91. ESPN produced and distributed media content using Game Plan’s mark.
93. Each Defendant’s use of Game Plan’s mark was a wrongful and an unauthorized
94. Game Plan incorporates by reference each and every allegation set forth in
95. Game Plan’s registered trademarks are distinctive marks that are associated with
Game Plan and exclusively identify its business, products, and services.
96. Defendants make unauthorized use of Game Plan’s trademarks. By doing so,
Defendants create a colorable imitation and false designations of origin as to tainted Game Plan
97. As a result of their wrongful conduct, Defendants are liable to Game Plan for
98. Game Plan seeks injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages in an
99. As a direct result of Defendants’ actions, Game Plan has suffered and continues to
suffer irreparable harm for which they have no adequate remedy at law, and which will continue
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100. Game Plan incorporates by reference each and every allegation set forth in
101. Game Plan’s trademark was gaining fame and strongly associated with Game
trademark. By doing so, Defendants are likely to cause dilution by tarnishment of Game Plan’s
trademarks.
103. Game Plan seeks injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages in an
104. As a direct result of Defendants’ actions, Game Plan has suffered and continues to
suffer irreparable harm for which they have no adequate remedy at law, and which will continue
Unfair Competition
105. Game Plan incorporates by reference each and every allegation set forth in
106. The acts of Defendants complained of herein constitute unfair competition at the
expense of Game Plan in violation of the common law. Defendants used, without authorization
or license, Game Plan’s trademarks in a deceptive manner likely to mislead customers into
falsely believing Defendants’ conduct was that of Game Plan. Or alternatively, diverted
customers away from use of Game Plan’s products and services, as Defendants conspired to
promote the trademarks in conjunction with their own brands and products.
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107. Defendants’ actions have irreparably injured Game Plan by tarnishing its
reputation with its customers. Game Plan has cultivated good-will with customers at great
Unjust Enrichment
108. Game Plan incorporates by reference each and every allegation set forth in
109. The acts of Defendants complained of herein constitute unjust enrichment of the
Defendants at the expense of Game Plan in violation of the common law. Defendants used,
conduct of selling products and distributing content inuring to the benefit of Defendants. In this
110. Defendants retained the benefit of and profited unjustly from their unauthorized
111. Upon information and belief, Defendants had an appreciation and knowledge of
the benefit they derived from their unauthorized and unlicensed use of Game Plan’s intellectual
property.
112. Retention by the Defendants of the benefit and profits they derived from their
113. Game Plan seeks injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages in an
114. As a direct result of Defendants’ actions, Game Plan suffered and continues to
suffer irreparable harm for which no adequate remedy at law exists, and which will continue
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2. Declare that Defendants’ conduct has been willful, and that Defendants have
officers, directors, principals, agents, servants, employees, successors, and assigns, and all
persons and entities in active concert or participation with them, from engaging in any of the
activity complained of herein or from causing any of the injury complained of herein and from
assisting, aiding or abetting any other person or business entity in engaging in or performing any
of the activity complained of herein or from causing any of the injury complained of herein.
4. Enter a preliminary and permanent injunction giving Game Plan control over the
instrumentality used by the Defendants to cause injury and enjoining Defendants from using
such instrumentalities.
5. Enter judgment awarding Game Plan actual damages from Defendants, adequate
to compensate Game Plan for Defendants’ activity complained of herein and for any injury
complained of herein including but not limited to interest and costs, in an amount to be proven at
trial.
8. Enter judgment awarding attorneys’ fees and costs, and order such other relief
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Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38, Game Plan demands trial by jury
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