Vince Young is suing “three friends” for using the “VY” and “INVINCEABLE” names that his three friends got trademarked after his National Championship Rose Bowl appearance for Texas.
Rodney Vannerson, Enos Cabell and Tom Roberson were the individuals listed as “three friends” in the complaint filed in a Houston District Court on December 12th. Young got his nickname “Invinceable” after winning the Rose bowl almost single-handedly in 2006. “VY” was a nickname he grew up with as a child.
Vince’s agent, Major Adams, has stated that he has been held back from marketing and shoe deals (Reebok being one of the bigger names) because of these trademarks that his friends got without his knowledge. Vince said he was only made aware of the trademarks after he was selected in the draft. The friends filed for the trademarks the day after the national championship victory early in 2006.
Now that Vince is back taking snaps, backing-up Kerry Collins in Tennessee, he seems likely to stay there. Jeff Fischer has said that he still likes Vince and intends for him to be a starter again sometime. Although Kerry Collins has the team looking good this season, Vince’s stock will certainly rise again, and when it does, he wants to have those nicknames as possible brand names.
But will his justification hold up in court as a valid defense for his lack of trademarking the names before his friends? Does he have any rights to his nicknames, or will he have to buy his “three friends” out to get the names legally?
4 replies on “Vincesanity”
The fact that Vince didn’t file a trademark application and the “Three Friends” did is likely of very little consequence. I wrote a short analysis about it on my site earlier today. Check it out here: http://sportslawguru.com/2008/12/23/is-vince-young-invinceable/
Matt’s link above is a greatl analysis of the related legal issues that the court will address in Vince’s suit. It sounds like a pretty clear cut case that Vince should win. It’s about time VY starts winning again.
Agreed, good analysis and very easy to understand. VY needs all the help he can get. Good thing Fisher is letting him get back out on the field this week to get some snaps.
They are not his friends, “Three Friends” is the name of the group that applied for the trademark.