Callaway Golf Settles in Suit Against Spalding

Carlsbad-based Callaway Golf Co. this week settled a suit filed last year in U.S. District Court against Spalding Sports Worldwide Inc. that charged the sporting goods company with misappropriating Callaway’s trademark and reputation to sell its golf balls. In its advertising, Spalding used images of Callaway’s Big Bertha clubs, claiming that its Top Flite System C balls performed particularly well with the popular line of metal woods, a claim that Callaway says it did not endorse. While admitting no wrongdoing, Spalding agreed to discontinue the System C ball and pull its advertising and promotion of the product. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.