Round 1: University And John Wayne's Estate Duke It Out In Court

It’s the trademark battle where both sides put up their Dukes. The family of John Wayne has been sent to the mat in their attempt to challenge the North Carolina university’s trademark use. According to this case, John Wayne Enterprises LLC v. Duke University, described in court papers by the actor’s heirs as a “family business,” seems to have shot first and asked questions later. Or, at least, shot first. The Duke always seemed to me like more of the pull-my-gun-in-a-heartbeat sort of guy, but only one to trigger when left with no choice. The heirs apparently were not so patient.