WASHINGTON–Retired NBA superstar Michael Jordan Thursday welcomed the news that Chinese courts have agreed to hear his lawsuit against a Chinese sportswear and shoe maker over unauthorized use of his name.
“I am very happy that the Chinese courts have accepted my case to protect the use of my name and the interests of Chinese consumers,” Jordan said in a statement issued in both the United States and China.
“Qiaodan Sports has built a business off my Chinese name, the number 23, and even attempted to use the names of my children, without authorization.
“I think Chinese consumers deserve to be protected from being misled, and they should know exactly what they are buying.”
The lawsuit filed by Jordan in February charges that Qiaodan Sports Company deliberately misled Chinese consumers about ties to the six-time NBA champion.
Jordan has been known in China by the name Qiaodan since he became a global basketball star in the 1980s, his playmaking skills being seen on Chinese television since the 1987 NBA All-Star Game, the first NBA telecast in China.
“No one should lose control of their own name, and the acceptance of my case shows that China recognizes that this is true for everyone,” Jordan said. “After all, what’s more personal than your name?”
Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in the 1990s and sparked the 1992 Barcelona Olympic US “Dream Team” to gold.
He led the NBA in scoring a record 10 times and his average of 30.1 points a game is the highest in NBA history. He ranks third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.