Michigan's Untold Story - Part II

Abstract

Michigan's Untold Story - Part II updates the O'Bannon v NCAA lawsuit regarding student-athlete's right of publicity.

The article is dedicated to Sidney B. Williams, Jr., the first African-American quarterback in the Big Ten Conference. He played for the Univ. of Wisconsin at Madison in 1956-58. Sidney led Wisconsin to a 7-1-1 record in 1958 losing only to Rose Bowl Champion Iowa.

A genuine student athlete Sidney majored in Chemical Engineering and later earned a juris doctor degree at George Washington Univ. in D.C. His legal career includes serving as a patent examiner in the U.S. Patent Trademark Office and later executive director of trademarks and domestic patents for Upjohn Co.

Today Sidney B. Williams, Jr., is of counsel to Flynn,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The firm provides a bevy of services including patents, trademarks, copyright and related intellectual property matters.

For a detailed discussion of the right of publicity see The Right of Publicity and the Student- Athlete at 7 Elon Law Review 537.

Keywords: Right of Publicity, Student-Athlete, Intellectual Property, Antitrust, Torts