Jennifer Ko Craft, Sports and Entertainment Attorney with Dickinson Wright

Rick talks with attorney, Jennifer Ko Craft this week on iHeartRadio about sports partnerships in the wake of COVID-19.

Have a listen:

Jennifer  is a partner with the law firm of Dickinson Wright and the chair of the firm’s Media, Sports & Entertainment Department. She practices primarily in the areas of intellectual property including trademarks and copyrights as well as sports and entertainment.  Ms. Craft consults with clients in identifying various protectable aspects of the clients’ products, services and concepts, and in developing and managing their intellectual property portfolios. Ms. Craft also drafts and negotiates a variety of agreements in the intellectual property, sports and entertainment fields such as sponsorship and licensing agreements, talent appearance agreements, player agreements and personal management agreements.

The International Olympic Committee is meeting this week to discuss Olympic delay/cancellation. Many credit unions are sponsors for teams in the NBA, Major League Soccer, etc. What impact might there be on those sponsorships now that most sporting leagues are suspended due to the coronavirus? What happens to the sponsorship/licensing agreements with games and seasons being cancelled?  Do I still have to pay the team/league a sponsorship or license fee?  Are there sponsorship agreements with the IOC unique to that event, underlying issues– is there a force majeure provision, and does it extend the term, give the parties the right to terminate or both?

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Craft served as Associate General Counsel for Agassi Enterprises and Alliance Sports Management, where she negotiated and drafted licensing and endorsement agreements, management agreements, and player tournament agreements for NBA and ATP players and IRL drivers. She was also Corporate Counsel for Sunbelt Communications, where she handled all corporate and intellectual property matters for several NBC and FOX affiliates throughout the United States.

A great talk with Jennifer and I appreciate her taking the time to come on and discuss!