MIAMI — The National Basketball Association (NBA) is trying to block use of its name and to take over the rights to porn stars Sara Jay and Angelina Castro’s TeamBJNBA.com website by July 9.
The league is contesting the Miami-based porn stars’ use of the NBA in connection with their Oral Sex Giveaway Twitter pledge, and is demanding that the entire website and photos be pulled off the Internet, and that the TeamBJNBA.com URL and Twitter handle "@teambjnba" be transferred to its ownership.
Jay and Castro promised to provide a blowjob to all of their Twitter site’s followers using the hashtag #TeamBJNBA after the Heat won the NBA title.
But the stars said that they have received a letter from the NBA saying, "It has come to our attention that [you] are using NBA Intellectual Property without authorization, including on the website http://www.teambjnba.com and Twitter page https://twitter.com/#!/teambjnba (collectively the “Websites”), to promote an event by including references to the Miami Heat and its players. The Websites incorporate the 'NBA' trademark in the domain name and account name and prominently feature NBA Intellectual Property — including the Heat team logo.
“Furthermore, NBAP has confirmed [you are] using a photograph depicting the likeness of Heat players Chris Bosh, Lebron James, and Dwyane Wade without their authorization and in violation of their rights. [Your] unauthorized use of NBA Intellectual Property is an attempt to capitalize on the fame and goodwill of NBA Intellectual Property and tarnishes the reputation of the NBA and the Heat. NBAP has not authorized [You] to use NBA Intellectual Property in any way and [Your] unauthorized use; therefore, constitutes among other things, trademark infringement, trademark dilution, false association, and unfair competition."
Jay said her followers swelled to more than 236,000 and Castro's to more than 106,000 after the pledge announcement.
After the Heat's victory, the stars announced they would fulfill the pledge hoping to break the Guinness Book of World Records for oral sex in a day.
In details set up at the website in question, the girls invited all their Twitter followers to go to popular Miami adult club Miami Velvet on August 2 for free, no strings attached oral sex in honor of the Heat's victory.
The performers planned to stream the event live on their respective websites — SaraJay.com and AngelinaCastroLive.com.
"This was all supposed to be fun. I supported the Heat and sent them tons of followers during the season. Can't they let us fans like us have a little fun? The NBA's slogan is 'Where Amazing Happens'… if offering 300,000 followers free oral sex isn't amazing, I don't know what is," Jay said.
Castro added, "As anyone knows who follows my Twitter, I lived and breathed Miami Heat basketball all year. I am upset they are taking the fun out what we are trying to do. No one thought we were going to go ahead with the event. We aren't hurting anyone. Does NBA stand for 'No BJ's Allowed?'"
A representative for the stars said they are in the process of determining a response by the NBA's July 9 deadline.
