Former basketball star Michael Jordan has won a major trademark case against local Chinese sportswear firm, following a verdict by China's Supreme Court that ruled in the favor of the "Hall of Fame" star.   

The verdict gives Jordan a complete right over his last name written in Chinese characters. It also overturns the earlier rulings by China's local courts and simultaneously ends the four-year legal battle of the former NBA star.

Like Us on Facebook

"I am happy that the Supreme People's Court has recognized the right to protect my name through its ruling in the trademark cases," Jordan said in a statement sent to Reuters. "Chinese consumers deserve to know that Qiaodan Sports and its products have no connection to me."

China's Supreme People's Court concluded that Jordan's Chinese name is "well-recognized" across China, and hence, local sportswear firm Qiaodan Sports Co. Ltd will have to give up its registration of the Chinese version of Qiaodan, pronounced as "Chee-ow-dahn."

However, China's top court did gave some respite to the Fujian province-based sports firm, as it allowed the firm to use Romanized version of the term "Qiaodan."

The former Chicago Bulls player sued Qiaodan Sports in 2012, arguing that the sports firm has capitalized on his famous name and also his renowned jersey number "23" without his due permission.

Qiaodan Sports had registered the trademark of "Jordan's name" in Chinese version almost a decade ago. The Fujian-based sports firm's decision to go for a trademark registration was largely based on the rationale that NBA sports and also Michael Jordan enjoys a huge popularity across China.

TagsMichael Jordan, Michael Jordan China, china, Basketball in China