TYLER -- Texas A&M University football star and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel has filed a lawsuit claiming an individual is infringing on his trademark “Johnny Football”nickname in order to sell shirts.
JMAN2 Enterprises LLC filed suit against Eric Vaughan on Feb. 15 in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division.
During the 2012 college football season, Manziel licensed the mark “Johnny Football.” In November 2012, he discovered that the defendant was using his trademark to sell shirts which stated “Keep Calm and Johnny Football.”
The defendant is accused of trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, Texas unfair competition, including right of publicity, palming off and misappropriation.
JMAN2 Enterprises is asking the court for injunctive relief and an award of damages for the unlawful sale of goods, exemplary damages, attorney’s fees, interest, and court costs.
The plaintiff is represented by J. Bennett White and Virgil J. Jordan of J. Bennett White PC in Tyler.
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider is assigned to the case.
Case No. 6:13-cv-00158
'Johnny Football' files trademark infringement lawsuit over shirts
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