OFF BEAT: Church goes after Derrick Rose, Adidas over slogan use

A Chicago-area church is looking to trap elusive Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose into testifying in its pending court date with sporting goods giant Adidas Group.

A lawyer for Zion, Ill.-based Christian Faith Fellowship Church said he may wish to depose Mr. Rose for a trademark infringement trial set to begin in August. The church trademarked “Add a Zero” in 2006 to sell a line of T-shirts to benefit its food bank, while Adidas trademarked “ADIZERO” in 2009 for a new line of lightweight footwear and clothing.

Mr. Rose, who grew up in Chicago, has a 14-year, $250 million endorsement deal with Adidas and his own line of “ADIZERO” sneaker. According to the New York Post, Richard Young, the attorney for the church, said he seeks to ask Mr. Rose why he wants “to steal the trademark of a small church of parishioners of modest means in Zion, Illinois.”