A good way to settle a dispute is to ask your adversary to meet you for a conversation over a couple of beers. It is just a common thing that we guys like to do.
Of course, your average convo with cervezas doesn’t typically involve a high-stakes battle over the trademark rights to a number.
The legal team of Lamar Jackson, the two-time (and currently reigning) National Football League Most Valuable Player, is disputing Troy Aikman’s use of “Eight.”
Aikman, the Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl winner, wore the No. 8 during his playing days, just like Jackson does now.
Jackson owns, or has applied to own, several trademarks utilizing the numeral in various ways.
According to federal records, Jackson has filed a complaint against Aikman’s use of the number in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
According to a statement made by his attorney in the filing, published by ESPN, Jackson
“has expended considerable time, effort, and expense in promoting, advertising, and popularizing the number 8 in connection with his personality and fame” and he
“is well-known by this number due to his notoriety and fame, along with his promotion of this number in his trademarks and in media coverage.” according to the appeals.”
The legal filing goes on to say that Aikman’s usage of “EIGHT” is “likely to cause confusion, or cause mistake, or to deceive” potential consumers.
Trademarking a numeral is a tricky legal issue. Many famous athletes have worn No. 8 in addition to Aikman and Jackson.
This list includes another Baltimore icon in Cal Ripken, as well as Kobe Bryant, Carl Yastrzemski, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Steve Young, who Aikman referenced in his call to make peace.
Aikman, who is fast approaching Peyton Manning’s levels of product shilling, posted the following on X (formerly Twitter).
Hey Lamar – looks like a worthy conversation over a couple cold EIGHT beers!🍺🍺 Maybe Steve Young can arbitrate?? https://t.co/rPLVThmSMg @Lj_era8 @SteveYoungQB @drinkeightbeer @espn pic.twitter.com/M0aDiYka2J
— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) July 20, 2024
As you probably already guessed, EIGHT beer is Aikman’s light lager. While this meeting over brews with Jackson will likely never happen, at least the Dallas Cowboys legend is using the legal tiff to get free publicity for one of his products.