LeBron James, Uninterrupted issue letter to Alabama football over copyright concerns

Show Caption Hide Caption There is no 'loyalty' in the NBA: Ray Allen opens up SportsPulse: In a one-on-one, Ray Allen opens up about his new book, his departure from Boston and offers advice for LeBron on his upcoming free agency decision.

LeBron James and his multimedia outlet Uninterrupted have copyright concerns about a new Alabama football video series called Shop Talk in which former Crimson Tide receiver Julio Jones and Coach Nick Saban and others have a roundtable discussion about various topics in a barbershop.

It’s similar to Uninterrupted’s The Shop in which James and his guests do the same in a barbershop.

Uninterrupted’s head of business and legal affairs Josh Tarnow sent a letter to the University of Alabama expressing those concerns, writing, “Shop Talk is clearly using the ideas, concepts and format previously created and exploited by Uninterrupted in connection with its program titled ‘The Shop,’ and Uninterrupted believes Shop Talk infringes the copyright in The Shop.

“In addition, your use of the name “Shop Talk” and the related logo infringes Uninterrupted’s valuable trademark rights in “The Shop,” and in the name and design associated therewith.”

Alabama officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

More NBA

Shop Talk teased its first episode in a Tweet from the Alabama twitter account on March 26.

“Your continued exploitation of 'Shop Talk' infringes 'Uninterrupted's' copyright, trademark rights and other valuable intellectual property rights in 'The Shop' and significantly damages 'Uninterrupted's' commercial prospects for 'The Shop, ” according to the letter obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

The Shop has released two episodes – the first one featuring James, Maverick Carter, Draymond Green, Charles Oakley and 2 Chainz.

It was not a cease and desist letter.

“Rather than get into a ‘battle of legal letters,’ or rushing into legal proceedings, we think it would be beneficial for you to please provide Uninterrupted with a copy of the complete episode 1 of Shop Talk to review and to then have a conversation about how to address Uninterrupted’s concerns amicably,” Tarnow wrote.

Uninterrupted requested a response by Tuesday.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter.