NRL club in off-field battle over Phintellectual property rights

The NRL club “The Dolphins” is locked in a multi-year legal fight over ownership of the “Dolphin” trademark used on team merchandise. The dispute centers on Larry Kershaw, 72, who has owned the “Dolphin” trademark in the sporting equipment class since November 2018, after registering it to protect a surfboard fin he designed. The Dolphins applied for trademark protection almost three years later, but nearly five years afterward they still can’t secure approval for the “Dolphins” name and logo. Even with consent from other rights holders like Swimming Australia, IP Australia deferred the Dolphins’ application pending resolution with Kershaw.