Michael Jordan has notched a major win for his intellectual property in China, winning rights to the transliteration of his name Jordan in Mandarin.
Last week, the Supreme People’s Court overturned two rulings by Beijing courts in the last two years, granting the American basketball icon rights to “Qiaodan,” Reuters reported.
The name is pronounced “Cheeyowdan,” Jordan’s transliterated name in Mandarin, and is being used by a Chinese sportswear company based in Southern China.
The Supreme People’s Court has also ordered the country’s intellectual property office to publish a new ruling on the use of the Chinese Characters in the brand name “Qiaodan.”
Jordan has been at loggerheads with Qiaodan Sports for four years, who he has continually argued should not be using “Qiaodan” as its name.
The Hall of Fame basketball star says he has always been known by the name “Qiaodan” in China since early in his career.
He also says that the company’s use of the jersey number 23 and his “Jumpman” logo – which features Jordan’s silhouette with outstretched hands and spread legs about to dunk a basketball – is illegal.
“Chinese consumers deserve to know that Qiaodan Sports and its products have no connection to me. Nothing is more important than protecting your own name, and today's decision shows the importance of that principle,” Jordan said in a statement.
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