The Award Previously Known as Butkus

[sandgk]

Dick Butkus has won a ruling in a California US District Court that prevents the Downtown Athletic Club in Orlndo from using the Butkus name, picture or identity in association with the annual award given to the year's best Linebacker.

A federal district court in California has ruled the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando does not have the right to use the name, picture or identity of Butkus in connection with the collegiate linebacker award program that has been known as the "Butkus Award."

THis solidifies an earlier ruling in Butkus' favor last year.

Judge Percy Anderson of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled last Wednesday that the club lost that right when Butkus revoked permission last spring. The court also ruled the club's use of Butkus' name after the revocation was unlawful, possibly rendering the club responsible for significant financial damages and attorney's fees incurred to stop the club's continuing use.

Butkus is seeking to have the authority to make an award in his name transferred to an organization that will be located in Chicago. More suits will follow as Butkus also seeks to recover damages from the unlawful use of his name, court costs - and to determine who actually owns the Butkus Award trademark.

(One possible outcome, a "Butkus Award" might never again be known as the Butkus Award).

[gregorylee]

WTF, I can understand his right to want to have some control over an award that bears his name, but what was his complaint? Did the downtown athletic club in Orlando mis manage the award, mis represent him, what is his bitch?

[Brutus1]

Word has it he want's it to be officially called the "Butkus My Two Dads Award".

[BB73]

Originally Posted by gregorylee

WTF, I can understand his right to want to have some control over an award that bears his name, but what was his complaint? Did the downtown athletic club in Orlando mis manage the award, mis represent him, what is his bitch?

I read that he thought they weren't raising enough money for charity. But if he wanted to not sound like a jerk, that's the thing to say. Sandgk's article also mentions it:

"This is a great thing for Dick because this means he is free to start his own award program. He wants to bring it to Chicago," attorney Bob Helfing said Tuesday. "He thinks [Chicago] is going to be a much better venue for him to raise funds for the charities he supports. The only thing that remains to be decided is who owns the trademark 'Butkus Award.' But regardless of who owns that, Dick is free to operate his own award."

[BB73]

If the award in Orlando isn't called the Butkus anymore, will it be called the

"National Award we'll give to a Penn State player if he's All Big Ten" Award,

or does the Bednarik own the rights to that?

[martinss01]

Originally Posted by gregorylee

WTF, I can understand his right to want to have some control over an award that bears his name, but what was his complaint? Did the downtown athletic club in Orlando mis manage the award, mis represent him, what is his bitch?

he's [censored]ed aj didn't get the award.