Steve Dimopoulos, a private damage lawyer in Las Vegas, has filed a federal lawsuit in opposition to the NFL and the Las Vegas Raiders after they allegedly threatened “heightened legal penalties” on account of his Super Bowl LVII advert.
Dimopoulos aired a business within the Las Vegas media market and on YouTube selling his regulation agency, Dimopoulos Injury Law, which featured Raiders defensive finish Maxx Crosby, Vegas Golden Knights ahead Williams Karlsson and UFC fighter Jon Jones.
The advert confirmed every athlete coaching and Dimopoulos prepping to go to court docket.
The NFL and Raiders despatched a joint cease-and-desist letter to Dimopoulos Feb. 22, demanding he cease airing the business or he’ll face authorized penalties for trademark infringement. They gave him a deadline of March 1 to reply, and he did so together with his federal lawsuit.
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Maxx Crosby (98) of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts throughout a sport in opposition to the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium Dec. 18, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dimopoulos advised Fox News Digital there isn’t any trademark infringement in his business.
“I’ve been using the silver and black colors before the Raiders announced they were moving to town years ago,” Dimopolous mentioned, referring to Crosby placing on a black and silver jersey and helmet through the business. Dimopolous says he’s been utilizing these colours since 2012.
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“[The Raiders] come to town, and they have the same color scheme. And they’re taking this position that I can’t use my own colors in this Super Bowl ad I just ran because it’s trademark infringement,” the lawyer mentioned.
“We were very careful not to use any Raiders logos. The only logos that appear in the commercial are my law firm’s logos. Some people say that kinda resembles the Raiders’ mark. It really doesn’t. To the extent that it does, it’s the same analysis: I was using that same logo here in Vegas long before they came here.”
The Las Vegas Raiders emblem on the Super Bowl Experience Feb. 8, 2022, on the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. (Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images)
Dimopoulos’ reasoning behind the lawsuit isn’t to only defend his Super Bowl advert.
“I knew enough that this is kinda ridiculous, and I did a little bit of research and I quickly realized that the NFL has a reputation for kinda being abusive and overreaching on their intellectual property rights,” he defined. “Suing small businesses, attacking people in small business that don’t have the knowledge or the resources to defend themselves. That was kinda part of my motive. I just want to stand up for these people.”
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A Las Vegas Raiders helmet throughout a preseason sport in opposition to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium Aug. 20, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
“The NFL has been a trademark bully for too long,” Dimopoulous’ lawyer, Marc Randazza, mentioned in a press release. “Everybody just caves in when they threaten them. … All Dimopoulos is seeking in this case is to be left alone. The NFL does not own the colors silver and black, and my client has a right to continue using his color scheme.”
As for Crosby’s involvement within the business, Dimopolous mentioned the two-time Pro Bowler “signed off on the fact that this arrangement did not conflict with, or violate, any third-party agreements.”
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The NFL and the Raiders didn’t instantly reply a request for remark.