HC issues notice to Kohli on Nike plea

Bangalore, Aug 21: The Karnataka high court on Tuesday ordered issuance of an emergent notice to cricketer and Team India vice-captain Virat Kohli in response to an appeal filed by Nike India. Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh also ordered status quo for four weeks with regard to an endorsement contract between Nike and Kohli.

Nike challenged the August 16 order of a city civil court refusing an ex-parte injunction against the cricketer entering into endorsement agreements with other parties on the ground that the firm failed to make a case for such a relief.

Nike claimed that as per the contract clauses, it had the right/option to seek extension of the contract period by one year till July 31, 2014. The company claims Kohlinot only refused but also threatened to disparage the brand in a June 10 letter.

"The trial judge has failed to appreciate that if Kohli enters into any agreement with the third party in the interregnum, the same would cause hardship to us as any endorsement of a rival brand would cause immeasurable damage to our brand," the firm claimed.

Nike had in its suit sought for a declaration to the effect that the contract is valid till July 2014. The firm had claimed that it had paid Kohli Rs 1.42 crore, apart from giving him for free sports products worth Rs 12 lakh.