Muhammad Ali Name and Brand | Trademark, Intellectual Property Issues

Muhammad Ali: Great salesman or great sellout?

He worked hard his entire life so that his children and grandchildren (and their children and on and on and on..) would not have any financial worries. Good for him.

M - April 28, 2006

He was marketing his name anyway, might has well take the money up front for the rights. He doesnt have much time left.

Anonymous - April 28, 2006

Revolution is what sells the best - so establishing rules for selling it seems to be OK. Just think of the famous Che Guevara icon and problems with its copyrights... It is a wise thing for Ali to do. Not the noble one, but wise.

Kuba Janicki - April 29, 2006

Muhammed Alli did what any reasonable human being would do. He sure knows he is a highly prized personality brand and provided with the opportunity, did what a savvy financial intelligent would have done. For me, the $50 million is an extra income for him...it's well-deserved.

Chuks Urim, Executive Director, DPI - May 1, 2006

We can not be confused between revering the man and owning the man...his deal is between himself and his God, our's is but to watch. He's more than earned this.

Lauren Moir, VP - May 1, 2006

Well done to him, his name would be used eventually anyway, this way he's sold for a good price, given his family security and kept 20%. An astute business move I think

Anonymous - May 1, 2006

At 65, his name still have a great marketing value. Ali is a true living legend. He continue to inspired us to believe in ourself and our choosen field. Way to go man.

nicki - May 2, 2006

If I was a 64 yers old former heavyweight world champion suffering from parkinsons, I would have done the same thing, after all a cool 50 million dollars for the labours of your youthful days sounds like common sense to me. Ali is still the Greatest of all time, his examplary attitute as a sportsman is the envy of many people worldwide and now we can all own a little piece of him by buying a slice of his powerful brand merchandise. As long as his brand is well managed and marketed there is no chance of him selling out his own ideals.

Anonymous - May 2, 2006

The questions posed in this article are fair enough. However, I wouldn't attempt to answer them. These decisions (selling rights to name and image) are his and his alone. I'm sure Ali has his reasons.

Michèle Champagne, Designer, Interbrand - May 2, 2006

It would be amazing to have so lived that at age 64 you could sell the rights to the use of your name and likeness for this kind of money. For Ali's sake though, I hope the money has been paid out cash on the barrel head.

The near moribund state of the Sweet Science has to be a worry for CKX. Whether pro boxing is dead or "only mostly dead" may determine how things work out for CKX in this deal.

We all know that "[t]here is a big difference between mostly dead and all dead." It will be interesting to see what the CKX does with the Ali brand. Perhaps to protect their investment, they will feel to join the current movement to resuscitate The Sweet Science.

Here is wishing both Ali and CKX all the best.

Jim Phipps, Brand Licensing Lawyer, Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP - May 2, 2006

He has been a brand all his life but on a bigger scale. Think about yourself, we are all a brand, albeit smaller. He has done it for the greater good of the shareholders...by which I mean his family and possibley research into Parkinsons.

rupertLeigh, Brands Marketing Manager, Channelfly - May 3, 2006

Good for ALI. His brand is now even bigger than ever. At least he will enjoy his $50 Million at his retirement. I believe that he will doesnt care about what people think about if his action. Best of Luck for him.

Danny Wirianto, Founder, SemutApi Colony - May 4, 2006

Let´s be honest. Who of you really thought about Muhammed Alli in the past years? It seems to me that the man just made did his most memorable K.O. of all times. As a real boxer, when nobody expected. Way to go man!

Andres Villalobos, Creative Director, brandnew - May 4, 2006

Ali is doing the right thing.He is milking a name he made for himself. It is akin to google selling shares (IPO). Since Ali does not have a company all he can 'sell' is his name which after all this years is worth probably more than he is getting ( but is that not what life is all about?) He will now be able to do what money can do as he courageously fights the disease that has robbed him the sting but not the spirit. He is still the greatest.

WAMAI ROBERT, CONSULTANT, The Bigger Picture - May 5, 2006

A company such as CKX should have capitalized on this brand years ago, at age 64 and the need for the younger generations to take interest in your brand, is the Ali brand really worth $50 Million now, or 5 years from now? It's not wrong for him, as an individual to capitalize on such an opportunity, but perhaps the stakes are a little high for CKX?

Anonymous - May 5, 2006