A federal judge in the Southern District of New York issued an order on Wednesday for bootleg vendors who have been selling counterfeit Knicks and Rangers gear outside of Madison Square Garden to stop immediately and appear in court, according to a report by Front Office Sports. The order comes two days after MSG Sports filed a lawsuit against the vendors on intellectual property grounds.
In their lawsuit against vendors who have been hawking counterfeit merchandise, MSG Sports claimed the vendors have been using their intellectual property and registered trademarks for their own commercial benefit, lack proper permits and have also been “aggressive and belligerent towards pedestrians” outside of Madison Square Garden, while also creating safety issues due to increased crowding before and after games. MSG Sports had asked the court to authorize state and local police as well as MSG security to seize and impound counterfeit merchandise, while also claiming they are entitled to damages triple the sellers’ profit.
On Wednesday, Judge Margaret Garnett issued a temporary restraining order against the defendants over the next two weeks while also ordering them to appear in court on Feb. 13. Interestingly, the lawsuit does not name any specific vendors of counterfeit merchandise or specify how many of them there are, referring to them only as “various John Does, Jane Does and XYZ Companies.”
“Counterfeit merchandise is deceptive to our fans, and we are pleased the judge agreed and affirmed our right to protect our trademarks,” an MSG Sports spokesperson told Front Office Sports.
The actions by MSG Sports continue what has been a crackdown on the sale of counterfeit sports merchandise by teams across the country. In April of this year, for instance, law enforcement in Los Angeles seized approximately $140,000 worth of bootleg Lakers merchandise being sold by vendors outside of Crypto.com Arena.
In a recent development, a restraining order has been issued against bootleg merchandisers operating outside Madison Square Garden following a lawsuit filed by MSG Sports. The legal action was taken in response to the unauthorized sale of counterfeit merchandise bearing the logos and trademarks of MSG Sports and its affiliated teams.
The issue of bootleg merchandise has long been a concern for sports organizations and entertainment venues, as it not only undermines the integrity of their brands but also results in lost revenue. In this case, MSG Sports took a stand against the illegal vendors who were selling knockoff products outside their iconic arena.
The restraining order prohibits the bootleg merchandisers from selling any unauthorized merchandise within a certain radius of Madison Square Garden. This legal action serves as a warning to others who may be engaging in similar activities, sending a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
In addition to the legal ramifications, the issuance of the restraining order also highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. Trademarks and logos are valuable assets for sports organizations and other businesses, and it is crucial to take action against those who seek to profit off of someone else’s brand without permission.
Moving forward, it is likely that MSG Sports will continue to monitor the area around Madison Square Garden for any signs of unauthorized merchandise sales. By enforcing the restraining order and cracking down on bootleg merchandisers, they are taking a proactive approach to safeguarding their brand and ensuring that fans have access to authentic, high-quality products.
In conclusion, the issuance of a restraining order against bootleg merchandisers outside Madison Square Garden serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and maintaining the integrity of a brand. This legal action sends a strong message that unauthorized sales will not be tolerated, and serves as a deterrent to others who may be considering engaging in similar activities.
