Brian Urlacher and his relatively newfound head of hair are taking a hair restoration clinic to court over the use of his likeness. In a lawsuit filed in Florida this week, Urlacher claims a hair restoration clinic used his likeness despite the former Chicago Bears linebacker never agreeing to an endorsement deal of any kind.
Urlacher has an endorsement deal with Restore Hair that has paved the way for the former iconic bald head of Urlacher to display a fine head of hair. According to Urlacher’s legal claim, Charles Medical Group used his name on their website to advertise their hair restoration methods. The clinic used Urlacher’s name in a blog post and in the source code of the website despite no deal being made between the two entities. The clinic, according to Urlacher, used his name to promote their services and he believes that he should be compensated for his likeness.
“As a business, the licensing of Urlacher’s identity is just as important to him as his professional football career,” according to the suit, which says the Charles Medical Group has tried “illegally to steal and cash in on” his success.
Urlacher is seeking $200,000 in damages, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.
This is one instance where I just wish the settlement could be settled on the field instead of the courts. I imagine Urlacher can still pack a pretty good punch with his tackling skills that will make that hair clinic think twice the next time they try to use a likeness without getting proper permission.
