Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has filed a lawsuit against pretenders looking to cash in on his trademarked nickname ‘Greek Freak.’
A Manhattan federal court complaint filed on May 6 reveals Antetokounmpo is looking for at least $2 million in damages from a website called Fan Closet, operated by California residents Phil Wilett and Stefen Hill.
According to the document, Antetokounmpo sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company on March 27 and while it scrubbed the website of merchandise using the moniker, Fan Closet didn’t reach an agreement with the NBA star “ensuring that infringement had ceased.”
“Antetokounmpo has expended substantial time, money and resources successfully developing, promoting and advertising his Greek Freak-branded products,” the filing reads.
“The plaintiff should be reasonably compensated for the damage he incurred from the making and selling of unlicensed phone cases, hoodies, baby onesies and bodysuits – all bearing the Greek Freak label.”
The defendants could not immediately be reached for comment.
Antetokounmpo is currently in the middle of a four-year, $100 million contract, and is expected to cash in even more when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
This is the second lawsuit he has filed in defence of the Greek Freak trademark, with him going up against a Pennsylvania-based artist in July 2019. The sides reached an undisclosed settlement last September.
READ MORE: Antetokounmpo sues artist over alleged ‘Greek Freak’ knockoffs.
