The Chicago Tribune reports that Jewel-Osco has been successful in fending off a lawsuit brought against it by Michael Jordan, who apparently got upset when the retail chain took out an ad in Sports Illustrated congratulating the star for being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Jordan complained, the story says, because “the ad featured a pair of basketball shoes with the number 23 on the soles below the words ‘Jewel-Osco salutes #23 on his many accomplishments as we honor a fellow Chicagoan who was ‘just around the corner’ for so many years. The ad includes the Jewel-Osco logo and the grocery chain’s slogan ‘Good things are just around the corner’.”
Jordan said that the ad implied some sort of endorsement, but the judge said it was “noncommercial speech” protected by the First Amendment. However, the judge also “deferred a ruling on whether to toss the case until the parties submit detailed briefs next month,” the Tribune reports.
Jordan complained, the story says, because “the ad featured a pair of basketball shoes with the number 23 on the soles below the words ‘Jewel-Osco salutes #23 on his many accomplishments as we honor a fellow Chicagoan who was ‘just around the corner’ for so many years. The ad includes the Jewel-Osco logo and the grocery chain’s slogan ‘Good things are just around the corner’.”
Jordan said that the ad implied some sort of endorsement, but the judge said it was “noncommercial speech” protected by the First Amendment. However, the judge also “deferred a ruling on whether to toss the case until the parties submit detailed briefs next month,” the Tribune reports.
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