Mar 17, 2008
Robert Welsh, a Lake County (Illinois) businessman is suing the Big 10 Conference and the Big 10 Network claiming that they violated the Illinois Trade Secrets Act and breached an agreement to keep confidential a business plan he presented to them years ago. Better than that? He used to be the Penn State Mascot. Details from With Leather (good picture on the site as well),
Robert Welsh claims that in 1998 he presented to a group of Big Ten Conference officials and athletic directors his plan to create a Big Ten network… He claims the Big Ten Conference appeared interested in his proposal so he “distributed his business plan on a confidential basis and made a comprehensive and detailed presentation including a specific delineation of the Big Ten Network plan as a satellite/cable television medium.” But then the Big Ten Conference decided it “did not wish to cede control over such matters to an independent entity” and instead, the suit said, took Mr. Welsh’s idea as its own.
Well, this looks like something that will be settled out of court, because I doubt the Big 10 is going to want to take the time to litigate this. My only question is, with all of the frustrated people who can’t get the Big 10 Network (although there has been some headway with Comcast), how much money is Mr. Welsh going to get? Obviously, I’m sure the Big 10 Network made millions of dollars in revenue since its inception last summer, but how much money is the Big 10 really going to offer this guy? Damages for trade secret violations are often based on profits, and the “poor Big 10 Network” is obviously going to argue that they aren’t making any money off of this crazy idea.
With Leather: Mascot Sues Big Ten Conference, Network (also from: Chicago Business)
One comment
I would have been more impressed if, as the Penn State mascot, he had proposed a plan of succession to replace Joe Paterno as the Nittany Lion HC. It seems more likely the Big Ten Network will get on Comcast before Joe finally agrees to step down and let Penn State move forward with a new man at the helm…and therefore a new prospective for potential top-notch recruits to consider when considering where they want to play football. I am convinced Joe has lost his share of recruits over the years, especially on the offensive side of the football, because he’s just so…so…Joe.