Last year Jay-Z sued Boston Red Sox’ David Ortiz for the baseball player’s use of his 40/40 sports club franchise brand name. Ortiz had previously opened his own business, called the Forty/Forty Club, in the Dominican Republic and was forced by a judge to rename the venue and to shut down the website promoting it.
However, Jay and Ortiz have yet to resolve the issue. Jay’s suit includes a $5 million trademark-infringement portion, which is an amount that Ortiz’ manager, Mark Walker, claims is “way too much.” According to The New York Post, both parties were locked in negotiations for three hours on Monday, but still could not reach an agreement.
As a result of the failed negotiations, Manhattan federal court’s Judge Richard Berman told both Jay and Ortiz’ lawyers that they “do not have the authority to settle” the dispute. It is not clear if and when the courts have decided to take control of the negotiations.
