National Football League

Court rejects lawsuit over Ravens' 1st logo

Published Dec. 17, 2013 7:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

A federal appeals court has rejected an amateur artist's attempt to bar the NFL from showing the Baltimore Ravens' original logo in documentary videos.

Frederick Bouchat's drawing of a winged shield bearing the letter B was the model for the logo used during the Ravens' early years. A jury ruled in 1998 that the Ravens stole the idea, but didn't award damages.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond ruled Tuesday that glimpses of the ''Flying B'' in NFL Films and NFL Network videos don't violate Bouchat's copyright. The court also approved the logo's use in a historical display at the Ravens' stadium.

Previously, Bouchat lost a bid to prevent some NFL licensees from using the logo but won a case over its commercial use in highlight films.