Grayson Allen developed a bad reputation for his propensity for tripping opponents, but Duke always had his back. Now the school is helping defend their player’s rights by having lawyers send a cease and desist letter to a company making fun of him on a t-shirt.
Duke sends cease and desist to company mocking Grayson Allen on t-shirts
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
“Smack Apparel,” a company specializing in shirts mocking teams and players, is claiming their shirt is protected by the first amendment — but the letter from Duke’s lawyers only claims “Smack Apparel” is using Allen’s likeness and name without his permission, which seems like a cut and dry case.
In response to the letter, the above tweet was posted, which lashed out not only at the attorney in the case but Allen himself, telling him to “fight your own fights.” The reality is that Duke has a vested interest in protecting their player. As Deadspin points out, Allen could lose his remaining college eligibility if a company profits off his likeness.
The full text of the letter sent to “Smack Apparel” can be found here. At this time the shirt is still available for sale on the company’s website.
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