Troy Aikman and Lamar Jackson engaged in a copyright dispute over No. 8 last year. The Ravens quarterback is involved in a legal dispute this season with another professional athlete who shares the same number.
On his firm’s website, attorney Josh Gerben has a page about Jackson’s filing at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on April 2. Jackson contests Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s trademark application for a styled version of No. 8.
In his submission, Jackson argues that: (1) his NFL status has made him widely associated with No. 8; (2) Earnhardt’s efforts may falsely suggest a relationship between the two athletes; and (3) customers may mistakenly believe Earnhardt’s products are related to Jackson’s products.
The procedure is still extremely early. The Jackson vs. Aikman case is still open. Additionally, it will probably take months or perhaps years to resolve this new issue.
Both matters will be decided by the legal system. Indeed, it appears strange that mature men are battling over the right to a number in both situations. The fact that the battles are still going on shows how much money depends on someone’s ability—or lack thereof—to acquire squatter’s rights on a particular digit.
