Kareem Abdul-Jabbar v. General Motors Corporation Leo Burnett Company, Inc.

Former basketball star Kareem AbdulJabbar appeals the district court’s summary judgment in favor of General Motors Corporation (“GMC”) and its advertising agency, Leo Burnett Co., in his action alleging violations of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125 (a), and California’s statutory and common law right of publicity. Abdul-Jabbar argues that GMC violated his trademark and publicity rights by using his former name, Lew Alcindor, without his consent, in a television commercial aired during the 1993 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The district court based its judgment on all causes of action largely on its findings that Abdul-Jabbar had abandoned the name “Lew Alcindor,” and that GMC’s use of the name could not be construed as an endorsement of its product by Abdul-Jabbar. Having jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , we reverse and remand for trial.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This dispute concerns a GMC television commercial aired during the 1993 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The record includes a videotape of the spot, which plays as follows: A disembodied voice asks, “How ‘bout some trivia?” This question is followed by the appearance of a screen bearing the printed…