News Digest

Jury awards Michael Jordan big win in brand case

Jurors at a civil trial focused on the market value of Michael Jordan’s identity have handed the basketball legend a major win, ordering a grocery-store chain to pay him $8.9 million for invoking his name in a steak ad without his permission. The amount was close to the $10 million his attorneys said the one-time use of his name was worth and Jordan hugged his lawyers after the decision was read Friday night in a federal court in Chicago, where Jordan won six NBA titles with the Bulls.“I’m pleased with today’s verdict,” Jordan said in a statement. “No one – whether or not they’re a public figure – should have to worry about their identity being used without their permission.”

I’m pleased with today’s verdict. No one – whether or not they’re a public figure – should have to worry about their identity being used without their permission.

Michael Jordan

The jury deliberated six hours after a two-week trial in federal court in Chicago, and decided on the award amount on Friday evening. Jordan took the stand earlier in the week to claim he should be paid $10 million, which his business managers said was the fair market value for the advertisement, which appeared in a 2009 commemorative edition of Sports Illustrated to celebrate his career. Attorneys for the defendants, now-defunct Dominick’s Finer Foods, a division of Safeway, had claimed the advertisement was worth far less, around $127,000. The former great and current Charlotte Hornets owner made $100 million last year from marketing his image through long-term deals with companies such as Nike, Hanes and Gatorade. Jordan told reporters he would donate the money to charity.