Boston Celtics’ guard Terry Rozier is being sued by Easter Unlimited Inc., a company located in Carle Place, New York, for using their ‘Ghost Face Mask’ logo on his ‘Scary Terry’ t-shirts according to Steve Annear of the Boston Globe.
Last season, Rozier had a monstrous break-out year. Especially during the Celtics’ 2017 playoff run where the backup point guard averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists on 40 percent shooting.
The guard was so dangerous on the court that he was dawned the nickname ‘Scary Terry.’ Rozier liked the nickname and saw this as an opportunity to make some serious cash on his end.
LIMITED EDITION “SCARY TERRY” PRODUCT AVAILABLE NOW ! LINK IN BIO #NBAAllStarWeekend #GMB pic.twitter.com/eriFHB2MSr
— Terry Rozier (@T_Rozzay3) February 15, 2018
According to the Boston Globe, Rozier made shirts that were so incredibly popular with fans that they sold out within days.
Five hundred sweatshirts and T-shirts that displayed a cartoon version of Rozier wearing the so-called “Scream” mask, with the words “Scary Terry” written below the image, were printed up. Within days, they were gone.
After the success of the t-shirts, the point guard tweeted out to his fans hinting at more to come.
Scary Terry sold out! Y’all want more???
— Terry Rozier (@T_Rozzay3) February 24, 2018
Unfortunately for Rozier, there might not be any more to go around. Easter Unlimited Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Rozier for copyright and trademark infringement for his use of the ‘Ghost Face Mask’ made famous by the 1996 thriller/slasher horror film, ‘SCREAM’. The company lists the mask on their site.
A lawsuit filed in US District Court for the Eastern District of New York this month, Easter Unlimited Inc., is suing Rozier for copyright and trademark infringement for his use of the mask.
The company is seeking damages from the Celtics’ guard for not only promoting the products himself but for also giving other apparel companies permission to sell the shirts without Easter Unlimited’s consent, according to the Boston Globe.
“[Rozier] has received a financial benefit directly attributable to the Infringements. Specifically, [Rozier’s] use of the Scary Terry nickname paired with the Ghost Face Mask as his mascot, realized an increase in merchandise sales,” the lawsuit says. “A large number of people have viewed and purchased the unlawful copies of the merchandise displaying the Infringements.”
In an interview with GQ magazine, Rozier said the ‘Scary Terry’ merchandise was formed when a marketer from his agency made t-shirts for the guard. At first the shirts had a ‘Jason Mask’ but Rozier was quick to change that.
I was in L.A. and one of the guys in my agency who does marketing sent me shirts. It had the Jason mask on there. And I was like, “We need to get the Scream mask on there.” Then, around the time the playoffs, we started selling them out.
The lawsuit only adds to the list of Rozier’s woes this year. From his dwindling numbers in a contract year, to reports of him being upset about playing time. The backup point guard isn’t exactly having the best year after last season’s success.
