By CHAD BRAY
NEW YORK--A federal judge on Wednesday extended a ban on Reebok International Ltd. from manufacturing and selling New York Jets apparel featuring new Jets quarterback Tim Tebow.
At a hearing in Manhattan federal court, U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel said that Nike Inc., which became the NFL's official jersey supplier on April 1, has shown "a probability of success on the merits" in its lawsuit against Reebok.
Nike sued Reebok last week, claiming the unit of Adidas AG was selling unauthorized Jets T-shirts and other apparel featuring Mr. Tebow.
By allowing Reebok to sell New York Jets items with Mr. Tebow's name, "Nike loses the opportunity to associate itself" with Mr. Tebow among Jets fans and his fans nationwide, the judge said.
An agreement between Reebok and the National Football League Players Association to market merchandise featuring player names and numbers expired on Feb. 28. A separate decade-long agreement between the apparel maker and the NFL to market NFL jerseys expired on March 31.
However, Reebok had hoped to add Mr. Tebow's name and number to its existing inventory of blank jerseys and other apparel and sell them under a portion of those agreements that allows it to continue to market those items for a limited period.
Mr. Tebow, a two-time national champion and Heisman Trophy winner in college, rose to prominence last season after taking over as the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos and leading the team to its first playoff appearance since 2005. He was traded to the Jets last month to serve as their backup quarterback.
A Reebok spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
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