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- <text id=89TT3088>
- <title>
- Nov. 27, 1989: Business Notes:Litigation
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1989
- Nov. 27, 1989 Art And Money
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- BUSINESS, Page 77
- Business Notes
- LITIGATION
- Block That Antitrust Suit
- </hdr><body>
- <p> This Sunday, when the camera zooms in for a closeup of the
- National Football League action, look carefully at the helmets.
- Chances are you will see the word Riddell emblazoned on the
- nose guard. Riddell Inc. of Chicago has 60% of the N.F.L. helmet
- market and a peculiar contract: if players use another brand of
- helmet, they must cover the maker's name. Riddell won that
- provision in return for supplying N.F.L. teams with free
- helmets, pads and jerseys.
- </p>
- <p> Illegal procedure, says the country's only other major
- helmet producer, Athletic Helmet Inc. of Litchfield, Ill. A.H.I.
- has filed suit in federal court alleging that Riddell conspired
- to monopolize N.F.L. sales and deprive A.H.I.'s trademark of
- exposure on national TV. "If your product is not seen in the
- N.F.L. market," says Richard Compere, A.H.I.'s lawyer, "then it
- loses credibility."
- </p>
- <p> Chicago sports columnist Bob Verdi argues against the suit.
- Says he: "I think they ought to send it to the instant-replay
- official to review it."
- </p>
-
- </body></article>
- </text>
-
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