Sports Law
Unlike was the case a few decades ago, sports has today become a multi-million dollar industry. It is this exponential growth in the 'business of sports' that has informed the growing interest in sports law. The legal issues that, in one way or another, relate to sports typically range from intellectual property to torts to contracts and many others. In seeking to explore the various legal issues in the sports industry, this text concerns itself with the legal environment of a typical sports organization. The organization of choice for purposes of this discussion is Octagon Sports/Octagon Football.
A sports marketing agency with global presence, Octagon could easily be one of the largest sponsorship consulting outfits in the world. Typically, sports marketing firms like Octagon Football concern themselves with not only the creation but also the maximization of commercial opportunities for clients. In addition to working with scores of athletes, Octagon also works with hundreds of corporations, most of them blue-chip entities. One of the key entities Octagon has worked with in the past, according to the organization's president is FIFA (Robinson, 2008). Octagon also manages numerous events annually. One of the key goals of the athlete marketing department of Octagon is the creation and maximization of each of its client's off-field corporate engagements or relationships. In the final analysis, therefore, Octagon Football is of great relevance to players seeking to have their earning potential further enhanced throughout their playing careers.
Being one of the most visible and successful athlete representation entities, Octagon Football, like any other sporting outfit of its kind, is exposed to a variety of legal issues and concerns that have an effect on both its operational and managerial aspects. In addition to being actively involved in contract negotiations, Octagon Football also engages numerous other stakeholders in the industry as it seeks to create unique athlete brands. Ideally, an organization like Octagon Football ought to be aware of the various competitive challenges it could face and how to deal with them. Amongst other things, it must be aware that capitalizing on the success of other players in the sports entertainment realm could result in violations of common law, in which case it might find itself being accused of 'free-riding' or 'passing off.' Similarly, the company must protect itself from the unfair moves and practices of other players in the sports entertainment arena.
Sports Management, Promotion and Marketing: Legal Issues and Concepts
According to Jones (2011), in the past, there is no single area of law that comprised of the United States sports law. As the author further points out, traditionally, U.S. sports law has "comprised the more traditional areas of labor law, antitrust, tort law, contracts law, and others" (Jones 2011). Therefore, in the opinion of the author, the development of sports law as a unique legal concept has given rise to enhanced focus on the special components of sports law. Based on the nature of my sports organization of choice, I will in this text highlight contracts, intellectual property rights, and publicity rights and privacy rights.
Contracts
The nature of sports and sporting events management dictates that emphasis be placed on the various provisions of contract law, especially given that negotiations are, in this case, commonplace. From the onset, it is important to note that the various provisions governing the entry into, and enforcement of contracts are found in common law, the Uniform Commercial Code, and both federal and state laws. As numerous legal texts point out, there are various elements that ought to be present for a contract to be viewed as being valid. These include; an offer, acceptance of the said offer, obligation, and consideration. In any contract scenario, whether in sporting or elsewhere, an individual (to whom an offer is made) has several courses of action: he or she could reject, deny, or make what is referred to as a counter offer. The offerer (the individual making the offer) also has the ability to revoke the offer. The offer could also be voided by the incapacitation or death of a party to the said contract. Like is the case in most undertakings of a commercial nature, contracts in sporting engagements are binding. This is particularly the case once the elements I have highlighted above are present and once the parties to the offer agree on the terms as set therein. In that regard, therefore, if either party vacates or neglects its duties and obligations as per the terms of the contract, the offended party has legal backing, in which case the remedies offered could include monetary damages. Most contracts according to Jones (2011) also include...
Octagon Sports Organization Structure Octagon Sports Organizational Structure The most fundamental aspect and/or tool for establishing a successful organization is the organizational structure. Organizational structure is a typical and hierarchical arrangement of lines of authority, rights, duties, and communications within an organization, thereby defining how powers, roles, and responsibilities are assigned, coordinated, and controlled, and how information flows between the diversified levels of management. All these aspects are thereby directed towards the
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