ESPN sues Quiksilver Inc., alleging trademark violation

Quiksilver Inc., the maker of the namesake surfing and snowboarding gear, has been sued by sports network ESPN Inc. for allegedly violating a trademark on the cable channel's X-Games competition franchise.

Quiksilver, which has its Mountain Center in Park City, is using a stylized "X" emblem on clothing, labels and accessories that is "confusingly similar" to ESPN's logo for the series of surfing and biking contests, according to the infringement lawsuit filed May 2 in federal court in New York.

ESPN, a unit of Walt Disney Co., based in Burbank, Calif., said the symbols are especially confusing because Quiksilver sponsors X-Games participants and is currently partnered with a former X-Games champion, surfer Kelly Slater, to promote a line of clothing. ESPN started the X-Games in 1996 to promote alternative sports such as freestyle biking, skateboarding, surfing and rally-car racing.

Ashton Spatz, spokeswoman Quiksilver, based in Huntington, Calif., didn't immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.

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