Brandon Phillips “gold glove” sparks Rawlings lawsuit

Rawlings is trying to take away Brandon Phillips’ gold glove. Or, at least the gold glove Wilson made for him.

A sporting goods company long associated with baseball, Rawlings has sued Wilson — another easily recognizable sporting goods company — in federal court, claiming that Wilson’s “gold glove” made for Reds’ second baseman Brandon Phillips violates Rawlings’ Gold Glove trademark.

Rawlings created the Gold Glove Award in 1957, as a way to recognize and highlight a player’s defensive skills. A “Gold Glove Award” is awarded to one player in each league every year. Winners of the award receive a specialized Rawlings glove that “includes metallic gold indicia on the glove itself”.

…And therein lies the problem. Rawlings complaint states that Wilson started a promotion in which Phillips used a glove with “metallic gold-colored webbing, stitching and lettering that was manufactured by Wilson.”

“Not only is Mr. Phillips using the infringing Wilson glove in the field during games, warm-ups, and practices, but defendant and Mr. Phillips also have promoted the very existence of the glove (and its connection to Wilson) through various channels and media,” the complaint states. (via Deadspin)

Rawlings is seeking an injunction — thereby keeping Wilson from distributing any glove that contains any gold webbing, or fabrics which may further dilute Rawlings gold glove trademark, along with unspecified damages and attorney’s fees.

Note that only Wilson, and not Brandon Phillips, .