Franklin Falsely Ties Copycat Hit Tool to MLB Players, Suit Says

Franklin Sports Inc. sells trademark-infringing, “knock-off” hitting tools while falsely claiming Major League Baseball players widely use it, a batting-aid company told a New York federal court.

Pro-Hitter Corp. said the “vast majority” of MLB hitters use its ProHitter product—a small guard worn on the hitter’s top-hand thumb—in its trademark and false advertisement suit filed May 26 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Franklin’s “approved by the pros” advertising for its “Gator Grip” product misleads as it’s never been used in an MLB game, according to the complaint.

The complaint’s trademark claims stem ...