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Source: Atlanta Black Star
By Daryl Nelson | May 19, 2019
Kobe Bryant and his legal team are going with a new game plan in their battle against Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals for the right to use the name "Black Mamba."
Both parties have been fighting in court since 2017 over the name. Hi-Tech filed to trademark it in 2015 for its line of diet pills called "Black Mamba Hyperrush."
Kobe Bryant has a new tactic in a court battle to trademark his nickname "Black Mamba." (Photo: Vivien Killilea / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)
Bryant tried to trademark the name one year later and said since it's been his nickname throughout his NBA career, people wouldn't be able to distinguish the hoop player from the pills.
The five time champion also pointed to Nike commercials that use the word "hyper," which he said would confuse folks even more with the Hyperrush diet pills.
Now, according to The Blast, in his new legal attack, the retired shooting-guard has accused Hi-Tech of selling products that contain substances that have been banned by the FDA as a dietary supplement. He wants the courts to automatically grant him the "Black Mamba" trademark as a result.
"The product, marketed and sought to be registered as a 'dietary supplement,' has contained and continues to contain prohibited substances by the FDA: DMAA and Methylsynephrine," read newly filed legal documents.
During the legal back-and-forth, Hi-Tech accused Bryant of being a bully and not having a legitimate argument as to why he should get the rights to the Black Mamba name.
The company stated that his argument about people being confused is a flimsy one, because a professional boxer named Roger Mayweather already uses the moniker. And he even trademarked "Roger Black Mamba Mayweather" in 2013.
Bryant hasn't spoken about any of this publicly and has maintained his silence since the very beginning.
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Source: Yahoo News
Kobe Bryant Trying To Settle 'Black Mamba' Battle With Pharma Company
By Ryan Naumann | The Blast | January 7, 2020
Kobe Bryant is trying to hash out a settlement in the battle with a pharma company over "Black Mamba" before heading to trial.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Kobe is informing the court he is attempting to work out a deal with the pharma company Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals over his famous nickname.
The document reads, "The parties are actively engaged in negotiations for the settlement of this matter. Kobe, Inc. requests that this proceeding be suspended for 30 days to allow the parties to continue their settlement efforts."
Back in December, the NBA legend suffered a huge setback in the battle over "Black Mamba." The United States Patent and Trademark Office denied Bryant's attempt to wrap up the battle.
Bryant has been fighting the pharmaceutical company Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals for years. Hi-Tech has been attempting to trademark "Black Mamba HYPERRUSH." Bryant is fighting them being able to trademark it, accusing them of ripping off his famous nickname.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office shut down Kobe's motion for summary judgment asking for them to void Hi-Tech's trademark applications. They said the case would move forward and the parties would go to trial. They believe the evidence shows there is still much to be determined.
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Source: Forbes
Kobe Bryant's $600 Million Fortune: How He Won On—And Off—The Court
By Kurt Badenhausen | January 28, 2020
Basketball fans around the globe continue to mourn the tragic death of NBA icon Kobe Bryant, who perished Sunday in a helicopter crash, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other passengers. The 41-year-old Bryant leaves a rich legacy on the court for his accomplishments and a relentless drive that helped the Los Angeles Lakers win five NBA titles during his 20-year career.
Bryant was also admired for his wide-ranging business success, which made him one of the wealthiest athletes on the planet. His career on-court earnings rank second-most all-time, and he had endorsed more than 20 brands since he entered the NBA, including Nike, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz and Hublot.
He plowed those earnings into many business ventures, including the emerging sports drink BodyArmor and small startups like Art of Sport and HouseCanary. Months after his retirement in 2016, Bryant unveiled his $100 million venture-capital fund, in a partnership with entrepreneur Jeff Stibel, to invest in media, technology and data businesses. Stibel told CNBC in September that their firm had 18 current investments, with roughly 10 exits so far. Fellow superstar athletes Peyton Manning and Steph Curry were also investors.
Bryant also published his own young adult books and became the first pro athlete to win an Academy Award, in 2018 for his animated short film Dear Basketball. Altogether, Bryant, at just 41, had amassed an estimated fortune of $600 million and established a thriving post-NBA career.
Here are some areas where Bryant had scored since he arrived in the NBA in 1996 as a skinny 17-year-old from Philadelphia.
Kobe's Annual Earnings
Bryant's paycheck soared with the NBA's rising salary cap and his expanding endorsement portfolio.
• Annual earnings
Bryant had the NBA's highest salary for six straight seasons to end his career. The combination of his Lakers salary and his endorsement deals peaked at $62 million. Nike was his most important and lucrative partner. The relationship started in 2003 under a four-year, $40 million deal that helped turn Bryant into a global superstar with soaring annual earnings.
The sportswear giant sent Bryant to China nearly every summer to promote its products. Bryant's brand exploded in China, and he picked up China-specific endorsements with Mercedes-Benz, Alibaba and more. Nike's Greater China revenue is now $6 billion and growing 20% annually.
Please go to Forbes to read the entire article.
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