That time Luka Doncic took his mother to court

Luka Doncic is one of the NBA's biggest names, and his rise to the top of the game since his inaugural season in 2018 has been relatively smooth sailing... There's just been one issue that's lurked beneath the surface during that time.

We’re talking of course about the legal dispute he had over the use of his trademarks – with his mother, of all people! 

Credit Instagram @mirjampoterbin

While Doncic and his mother have tried to keep this issue under wraps, once matters find their way into the courts, it’s only a matter of time before the ugly details emerge. Let’s take a look at what we know about the family’s legal battle.

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The ugly affair came to light in September 2022, when Doncic filed a suit to dispute the rights of his trademark, 'Luka Doncic 7', which had been controlled by his mother Mirjam Poterbin.

Poterbin had been controlling his brand since 2018, when the rising star – then 19 – entrusted his mother to manage this side of his affairs.

Credit Instagram @mirjampoterbin

Since his meteoric rise to the top of the NBA, Doncic has had a change of heart and decided he wanted to have more control over his brand.

It is believed he had been trying to regain control of the trademark since 2020 behind closed doors, according to ESPN, but Poterbin has refused to give up her stake in the matter.

The trademark is an especially lucrative side of Doncic’s business, as it features on all his apparel and footwear.

After Doncic’s petition to cancel the trademark failed, he then applied to file another trademark under his name with the title 'Luka Doncic 77,' according to ESPN.

Unfortunately, this was also denied with the courts deciding in favour of Poterbin due to the fact she has written consent from her son, authorizing the use of the trademark.

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"I have a lot to look forward to as I continue to grow as a player and a person and it’s important to me to control my own brand and focus on giving back to my communities," Doncic said in a statement to The Stein Line in September 2022.

For her part, Poterbin – a former Miss Slovenia contestant and entrepreneur – maintains that her reluctance to hand over control of this brand came from a positive place with her son’s interests at heart.

Credit Instagram @mirjampoterbin

"Everything that is written comes from people who surrounded Luka in the last two years and want complete control over his life and career. I don’t want to wash dirty laundry in public, especially at a time when Luka needs to be collected and focused on the important matches ahead of him," Poterbin said in a written statement on Slovenian television, as told Diario AS. 

Credit Instagram @mirjampoterbin

"From the moment he was born, the only thing that mattered to me was that Luka was happy and that he was allowed to follow his dreams, which is normal for every mother," she continued.

"Threats from people who want to take advantage of my son, including me by writing articles like this at the least convenient time for Luka, will not reach me alive. I will always stand behind protecting my son and I will never deviate from that," her statement concluded. 

The good news, apparently for both parties, is that the legal stoush appears to be over with Doncic. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office official website, and as reported by The Dallas Morning News Doncic terminated the petition on December 5, 2022.

It’s unclear whether this is an optimal outcome for Doncic or he simply had no other option given the compelling case for his mother's ownership, it looks as though the book is closed on this issue and will remain in control of his trademark.

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It doesn't appear to have soured their relationship too much though, and Poterbin is still spotted supporting Doncic at his games, whether it's with the Dallas Mavericks or the national Slovenian side.