ESPN sues Quiksilver over logo for X-Games contest

Huntington Beach company Quiksilver Inc. is being sued by sports network ESPN, which claims a company logo violated the trademark for the X-Games extreme sports competition.

The suit, filed in federal district court in New York this month, alleges Quiksilver uses an “X” logo on various articles of clothing and equipment that is similar enough that customers could confuse it with that of the sports contests.

“Despite protests by ESPN, Quiksilver has since willfully expanded the use of the infringing mark, and Quiksilver’s apparel and accessories are now replete with the infringing mark,” according to the suit.

Efforts to reach a Quiksilver spokesman for comment were not successful.

— Michael Alexander