I mean, not quite. But it’s close. Kawhi Leonard used to have an endorsement deal with Nike. Now he has an endorsement deal with New Balance. Also, Nike and Kawhi are suing each other, both claiming authorship of the logo that was on Kawhi’s stuff from Nike. The linked article has an image:
A Klawmedy of Errors
—Act 1—
Nike: [Gives Kawhi a swimming pool full of money for seven years of endorsement rights.]
Kawhi: Cool, thanks. Maybe my logo could be, like, my hand, and also my initials, and also the number 2 that I wear on my sports shirt when I am being a professional athlete?
Nike: Sure, we employ designers who can do something with that.
Designer: [Spends years in training, maybe gets a degree in graphic design, builds a portfolio, is hired by Nike to create brand marks that will be worth millions of dollars. Uses this expertise to turn Kawhi’s vague notion into an actual professional logo.]
Nike: Cool, thanks. Here’s your paycheck, we own the logo now.
Designer: Yes, that is my job.
Nike: [Spends more money marketing Kawhi and making the logo recognizable, recoups that money by selling products featuring the logo.]
—ACT 2: Seven Years Later—
Kawhi: The contract for selling products featuring my logo has expired. I am arguably the best at my sport in the world now, so a new contract will require thirty-three swimming pools full of money.
Nike: That is too many swimming pools.
Kawhi: I must leave where I am and go to a new place.
New Balance: [Gives Kawhi all of the money pools.]
Kawhi: Now New Balance is allowed to sell products featuring the exact logo that Nike paid a designer to create and spent the past seven years marketing.
Nike: Oh Kawhi, you are such a joker.
Nike & Kawhi: [Both laugh because Kawhi made a very good joke. The laughter sounds entirely natural.]
—End—