Charity sues LeBron's Uninterrupted over 'More Than an Athlete' trademark

A Maryland charitable organization has filed a lawsuit in D.C. federal court against LeBron James' Uninterrupted brand and three other companies, including Nike and Disney, over their use of Uninterrupted's "I Am More Than An Athlete" slogan.

Game Plan Inc. says it filed an application for U.S. trademark registration of the term in 2016, with the mark registered on June 5, 2018. Uninterrupted began using the slogan in early 2018 after FOX News host Laura Ingraham criticized James' political views and derisively told him on a broadcast to "shut up and dribble."

Uninterrupted denies the claims.

"The complaint filed by Game Plan today is meritless and contains numerous factual inaccuracies," the company said, according to Bloomberg Law. "Uninterrupted owns prior rights in and to the 'More Than An Athlete' trademark."

Game Plan, a non-profit that guides young athletes to achieve professional success in and out of sports in the D.C.-Maryland area, says a group of youths from the program attended an October 2017 Cavaliers-Wizards preseason game - with James in attendance - wearing T-shirts with the slogan. Wizards star John Wall was photographed with them at the time.

Game Plan is seeking damages of $33 million.