Days before starting the 2026 season with Colorado, Deion Sanders encountered a major legal hiccup. A designer filed a lawsuit against Coach Prime over intellectual property rights to several designs. However, the Colorado head coach has asked a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit, arguing that the designer never owned the logos.
“At the time I signed with Under Armour, I had used the terms ‘Prime’ and ‘Truth’ in various personal and business ventures,” Sanders stated in his declaration filed in court on Aug. 21 as per USA Today.
“After working with Under Armour for many years, my endorsement deal with Under Armour ended in or around July 2023. After my deal with Under Armour ended, I continued to use the trademarks in connection with my businesses, including the logos that incorporated my jersey number. No one at Under Armour, or anyone else, objected to my use of these logos until this lawsuit was filed.”
Sanders’ legal team is arguing that the graphic designer is suing him over never-owned intellectual property rights to the designs. In a court declaration filed on August 21, the University of Colorado head football coach countered allegations of brand theft and fraud made by Nebraska-based designer Alan Tipp.
Tipp filed a federal lawsuit claiming he created the “P21ME” and “TRUTH” logos in 2011. Tipp claims Sanders never compensated him despite the branding generating millions in revenue on merchandise, Blenders sunglasses, and Nike gear.
Furthermore, the lawsuit argued Sanders misled Tipp into signing a 2011 “work-for-hire” agreement. It relinquished his rights under false promises of a prominent role on Sanders’ marketing team. He is now seeking damages exceeding $75,000.
Sanders’ attorney, Michael Kump, filed documents pushing for a summary judgement to dismiss the case. The defense argues Tipp designed the materials while employed at design firm Eyeking for an Under Armour sunglass line.
Tipp’s employment contract had all rights automatically assigned to Under Armour. It later allowed Sanders to take full ownership of the trademarks when his endorsement contract ended in 2023.
“Pursuant to Tipp’s employment agreement with Eyeking and Eyeking’s licence agreement with Under Armour, all rights in the logos were automatically assigned to, and owned by, Under Armour,” said the brief filed by Sanders’ attorney, as reported by USA Today.
“Although the Under Armour sunglass line that Eyeking created for Sanders did not succeed commercially, Under Armour began using the PRIME and TRUTH logos shown above on other branded Under Armour products. When Sanders’ endorsement deal with Under Armour ended, the company allowed him to take over the use of the trademarks.”
The legal battle comes at a busy time for Coach Prime, who is preparing for Colorado’s season opener against Georgia Tech on September 3, 2026. Moving forward, a conference is scheduled for October 13. If the judge denies Sanders’ motion for summary judgment, the case will likely proceed to a jury trial.
Alan Tipp’s lawsuit against Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders is shifting the legal responsibility to Under Armour. The massive sportswear company, valued at over $2 billion, defeated a federal lawsuit brought by graphic designer Alan Tipp.
As for Tipp’s side, the prosecution argues that Deion Sanders and his business associates used fraudulent tactics to steal the intellectual property rights to the “P21ME” and “TRUTH” logos. His legal team, is led by attorney Heather Voegele.
Tipp alleges that Sanders and Sam Morini verbally promised him prominent career advancements to secure his signature. Sanders told him he would play an integral role on his core marketing team. That included assisting in launching a customized sunglass line. It included working directly with Nike on Sanders-branded gear. It even included teaching University of Colorado Boulder football players on personal branding.
The entire lawsuit rests on Tipp’s claims of never getting any compensation. The lawsuit argues that Sanders and his business entities have raked in substantial, continuous revenue from the logos. As an example of their value, the complaint notes that the Blenders sunglasses line utilized the design and generated over $5 million in its first three days on sale. He wants the court to declare the 2011 rights-transfer agreement completely void.