Jack Nicklaus Companies Landed Hole-In-One With Court’s Recent Injunction

In this 100th episode of The Briefing by the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo talk about a company founded by Jack Nicklaus that was awarded a preliminary injunction enjoining him from using his name, image, & likeness in commercial endorsement deals. Watch this episode here. Show Notes: Scott: A company founded by Jack Nicklaus, Nicklaus Companies, LLC has been awarded a preliminary injunction which enjoins Jack Nicklaus from using his name, image and likeness in commercial endorsement deals.  The judge who entered the ruling called it awkward, but its an interesting look at the interplay between non-compete clauses and the transfer of name, image and likeness rights.  We are going to discuss this case on this installment of the briefing by the IP law blog. Scott: In 2007, Jack Nicklaus and GBI Investors, a company owned and controlled by Jack Nicklaus, entered into an agreement with Nicklaus Companies, LLC. a company formed by real estate magnate Howard Milstein, whereby for $145m Nicklaus Companies purchased certain assets of GBI which included substantial portfolio of trademark registrations and applications related to Mr. Nicklaus’ name and signature and “Golden Bear” nickname in the United States and various other countries around the world - more than 600 in the US and 50 other countries.  Also included in the purchase was the exclusive right to the golf course design services rendered by GBI and marketing, promotional and branding businesses of GBI, which included the right to use Nicklaus’s name, image and likeness. The complaint alleges that Nicklaus Companies because the sole owner of and the rights to use all of the intellectual property related to Jack Nicklaus. GBI and Mr. Nicklaus became members of the Company, and Mr. Nicklaus became a manager. Josh: In 2017 Jack Nicklaus retired from his day to day involvement with Nicklaus Companies but, according to the complaint, he still provided services on Nicklaus Companies or its subsidiaries when required. However, the complaint alleges that after Jack Nicklaus retired he repeatedly participated in deals for the use of his name, likeness and trademarks, including personal endorsements outside of the Nicklaus Companies which included Jack Nicklaus being paid to promote a European Tour golf tournament, which included the tournament’s right to use certain Nicklaus IP.  The complaint also alleges that Jack Nicklaus attempted to steer a Nicklaus company opportunity for a marketing and endorsement relationship to a one-off personal appearance deal for his own personal benefit to the detriment of the Nicklaus Companies.  The complaint also alleges that Nicklaus is directly competing with the Nicklaus Companies for golf course design projects and he is personally negotiating to renew his endorsement deal with Rolex. Scott: In the plaintiff’s motion for the temporary restraining order, the plaintiff argues that the 2007 transaction resulted in the purchase of all   golf course design services branded and identified under the Nicklaus, Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus Signature brands, the various marketing, promotional, and branding activities involving the use and licensing of Jack Nicklaus’ persona endorsements, other commercial rights to publicity, and intellectual property related to his identity and history as a recognizable public figure.  The transaction documents included a purchase agreement whereby GBI transferred the assets, rights and business interests to Nicklaus Companies, a non-compete agreement that Jack Nicklaus signed personally which restricted him from competing with the plaintiff, including providing his personal services as a spokesman or authorize the promotional use of his name or likeness for the business, products or services in competition with Nicklaus Companies for as long as GBI retains an ownership interest in the company, sufficient to elect at least two (2} members of the Board of Managers,