Things could have gone better this week for Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant. It was bad enough that his team lost to the Miami Heat in five games for the NBA championship, but now that the season is over, he can turn his attention back a pending court case.
Durant was sued in Federal Court by a guy named Mark Durante — a guitarist who, according to the lawsuit, was a big deal in the 80s … playing with Public Enemy, The Aliens, The Next Big Thing, and (our favorite) The Revolting Cocks.
TMZ obtained a copy of the lawsuit, in which Durante says he adopted the name “Durantula” for his “on-stage and performance persona” — and has used it to market “music, recordings, apparel, t-shirts, guitars, and related merchandise.”
Meanwhile, sports fans have adopted the handle for the Oklahoa City Thunder star.
Durante claims he sent KD’s people a couple letters “demanding they stop using the nickname” — but says Durant’s reps claimed he wasn’t using it.
In the suit though, Durante claims Nike has used the moniker to launch a shoe campaign — and KD himself signed “Durantula” on basketballs that are for sale through his website.
This is the third NBA-related trademark/copyright case to make headlines in the past month, following on the heels of unsuccessful attempts to claim rights to the phrases “Let’s Go, Thunder” and “Linsanity.”
