Takings

Puerto Rico Stole Roberto Clemente's Trademark. The Supreme Court Should Make It Pay.

Property rights are no less worthy of protection just because intangible property is at stake.

Wen Fa and Justin Owen | 8.13.2026 12:45 PM

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(Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Illustration: Fatima Ruiz.)

Roberto Clemente needs no introduction to baseball fans. In his nearly two decades with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Hall of Famer won two World Series titles, an MVP Award, and a dozen Gold Gloves. Clemente was known just as well for his work off the field. In 1972, just months after collecting his 3,000th hit, Clemente died in a plane crash while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

For more than 50 years, the Clemente family has used the Roberto Clemente trademark to preserve his legacy. The Clementes license the trademark sparingly, using it for causes like the Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh and the Roberto Clemente Foundation, which honor the life he built.

Puerto Rico wanted to capitalize on his brand. In 2022, the commonwealth forced cash-strapped Puerto Ricans to pay for commemorative license plates with Clemente's name and image, despite the family's objections.........

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