Trouble might be brewing behind the scenes for the O’Neal family, as patriarch and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s Authentic Brands Group has blocked his youngest son Shaqir’s trademark claim for his own name and likeness, according to documents viewed by The Shade Room.
ABG, of which Shaq is the second largest shareholder, filed a Notice of Opposition on July 15, essentially blocking his son’s trademark registration. Shaqir, a 19-year-old basketball player himself for the Texas Southern University Tigers, is represented by Mine O Mine LLC.
The reason given for the notice is that their names are so similar that it could cause confusion, per legal documents.
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“Applicant’s Mark is the same or a close approximation of the Shaq Marks and Applicant’s Mark is confusingly similar to Opposer’s Shaq Marks in sight, sound, and commercial impression,” reads the notice. “The Shaq Marks are famous, and they were famous long before Applicant filed the Opposed Applications, which were filed on an intent-to-use basis.”
If his father’s filing is implemented, Shaqir would have to withdraw his trademark application.
Lawyer: Shaq Blocking Son’s Trademark Is Business
While the legal filing may suggest friction in the O’Neal household, attorney Josh Gerben revealed that it’s actually more of an issue between the two’s management companies and less so of a personal one.
“So how is this case likely to play out?” Gerben tweeted. “It should settle without any trial. In fact, I am shocked it got this far. There is almost no excuse for two companies that Shaq is involved with to end up in a court case against each other.”
Gerben added that “Shaqir now has 40 days (from July 15) to file his Answer.”
The case will most likely be settled out of court. Neither of the O’Neal men have made a public comment on the case as of Friday.
Shaq has never shied away from being himself in the press, and even candidly admitted last year that his kids were “kind of upset with me” when he told them “we ain’t rich. I’m rich.”
Shaq to his kids: “We ain’t rich, I’m rich.”
Teaching them work ethic. 💪
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 27, 2021
“My kids are older now. They’re kind of upset with me, not really upset but they don’t understand. I tell them all the time, ‘We ain’t rich. I’m rich.'”
The six-foot-7 forward looks poised to follow in his father’s footsteps and eventually play in the NBA, and likely won’t need his dad’s financial assistance anyway.
@yourtrademarklawyer Major plot twist in the #shaquilleoneal vs his own son’s trademark application. Why would shaq’s company oppose his son’s #trademark 🤷🏽♀️ But there are still lessons in this hot topic. #yourtrademarklawyer #beautymarklawyer #intellectualproperty #copyright #smallbusinesstiktok #blackownedbusiness #nba #ncaa #nil #basketballchallenge
What do you think, Roomies? Should Shaq be trifling in his son’s business affairs? Or does his management company have a case to block Shaqir’s trademark registration?
