James Brown v. Electronic Arts, Inc.

OPINION

BYBEE, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiff — Appellant James “Jim” Brown alleges that Defendant — Appellee Electronic Arts, Inc. (“EA”) has violated § 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), through the use of Brown’s likeness in EA’s Madden NFL series of football video games. In relevant part, § 43(a) provides for a civil cause of action against:

[a]ny person who, on or in connection with any goods or services, or any container for goods, uses in commerce any word, term, name, symbol, or device, or any combination thereof, or any false designation of origin, false or misleading description…