Boxer’s team to KO illegal T-shirts

Printing companies have sold unofficial Pavlik T-shirts, an attorney says.

By DON SHILLING

VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR

YOUNGSTOWN — Team Pavlik wants to knock out sales of unofficial merchandise.

Louis Shiavoni, an attorney for boxer Kelly Pavlik, has been warning local printing companies that have been selling unauthorized T-shirts — stop or face legal action.

So far, businesses that have been contacted have agreed to stop the sales, Schiavoni said. He would not identify the businesses.

He added, however, that he’s on the lookout for other violations. Flea markets are one area of concern because he has heard vendors are selling Pavlik T-shirts that they have made up on their own.

Store owners say Pavlik fans have been desperately searching for shirts since he won the middleweight world championship Sept. 29.

“People are very angry. They want to find shirts,” said Judy Schenker, owner of Trolio’s Screen Printing & Embroidery in Boardman. “When he first won the title, our phones rang for four days straight.”

Even with the onslaught of calls, Schenker isn’t interested in carrying Pavlik shirts. She prefers sticking custom orders for school or company shirts, rather than offering licensed merchandise.

Walt Kishton, owner of Shirt Wizard in Boardman, had the opposite reaction to the public demand. He called Pavlik representatives repeatedly for several days after the fight. Eventually, he received approval to be an authorized retailer and has been carrying Pavlik shirts for the past two weeks.

The $25 shirts have been steady sellers, although he wouldn’t say how many he’s sold.

Parents are sending them to soldiers in Iraq, while some customers are shipping them to relatives in other states.

Ron Fox, owner of Eagle Wear in Hubbard, said he was so excited by Pavlik’s victory that he produced a shirt design, which was approved by Pavlik. The black shirt features Pavlik in red robe with the Youngstown skyline in the back. It is one of three official shifts being offered.

The Pavliks ordered 700 shirts with the design.

Not every store has been able to stock the shirts. A representative for Aardvark Sporswear & Trophy said the Austintown store has tried to reach the Pavliks about selling shirts but hasn’t received a call back.

The shirts are in such demand that people will turn to unauthorized sellers if they can’t find them, said the woman, who didn’t want to give her name.

Schiavoni referred questions about the availability of shirts to Mike Pavlik Jr., Kelly’s brother. He couldn’t be reached.

Six retailers have been given permission to sell Pavlik shirts, which also are sold at Pavlik’s Web site, www.teampavlik.com.

The Pavliks for the boom in merchandise demand ahead of time, Schiavoni said. The boxer trademarked his name in July. In September, he added his likeness and the logo for his boxing nickname, The Ghost.

A person cannot legally use a trademarked item for his own benefit.

Shirt shop owners said they constantly receive requests to make up shirts with trademarked images, such as cartoons and sports teams. Requests for Cleveland Indians shirts are huge right now, they said.

None of those requests can be fulfilled without a licensing agreement, store owners said.

Kishton said local printers could print such shirts for people 30 or 40 years ago before corporate attorneys began watching for violations.

“Those days are over,” he said.

Kishton said General Motors Corp. threatened to seek felony charges against him 13 years ago if he didn’t stop selling shirts with GM cars and logos. He has a trailer that he takes to car shows in several states.

He stopped selling GM shirts but offers Ford and Chrysler shirts that he buys off a licensed manufacturer. He said GM isn’t interested in reaching a licensing deal with him.

Fox, the Hubbard store owner, said he’s had success producing and selling licensed Youngstown State University football shirts since 1990. He pays 7 percent of sales revenue to the university.

He also sells Ohio State football and marching band shirts, which he buys from a licensed supplier. Ohio State charges 8 percent of sales for licensing, he said.

Fox added that he’s irritated that vendors can buy permits to set up retail sites on street corners and sell shirts after a team such as Ohio State wins a championship. Sometimes these vendors sell licensed merchandise and sometimes they don’t, he said.

“They are killing people who pay the rent all the time,” he said.

shilling@vindy.com