Jeremy Lin: Marijuana Dispute Proves Linsanity Has Limits

Whenever a new sports superstar breaks onto the scene like Jeremy Lin, companies look for any way possible to take advantage of the hype. Sometimes, such as a current case of California medical marijuana distributors selling a Linsanity brand, things go over the line.

Reid Cherner of USA Today passes along the thoughts of an Arent Fox law firm member about the use of Lin's popularity to sell marijuana:

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"You can't file a trademark when there's a clear connection to someone else's name," Pamela Deese said. "In this case, Jeremy Lin has the right to his name and related names and marks, as well as his signature, voice and likeness. That's all part of his intellectual property."

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While it clearly crosses the line in terms of the law, it also fails the common sense test. It's hard to believe anybody would think they could get away with selling cannabis in connection with another person without their permission.

Lin certainly doesn't want any negative publicity to hurt his growing brand, and that's exactly what this story is doing despite the fact he has nothing to do with the drug. It was only a matter of time before his legal team stepped in.

Just because he's been thrust into the public spotlight doesn't mean he loses his rights as a private individual. He still has the right to defend his name from anything defamatory that could have a negative effect on him moving forward.

The entire ordeal has proven Linsanity, as with every other fad, has its limits.

His lawyers won't be able to stop every person trying to sell cheap shirts on the street corner before games, but when it rises to the level of selling marijuana under the moniker, that's too much.

Hopefully the companies involved understand what they have been doing is wrong and simply pull the product in question instead of turning it into some type of legal battle. The last thing Lin needs is another distraction with the playoffs approaching.

If nothing else, the Knicks star has learned there's a downside to being famous.