Chinese sportswear maker Qiaodan Sports has changed its name to Zhongqiao Sports two weeks after a Shanghai court ruling in favour of legendary basketball player Michael Jordan, who has long claimed the brand profited off his name (Jordan is known as Qiaodan in China).

Back in 2012, Jordan sued Fujian-based Qiaodan Sports for building its business and brand around his Chinese name and famous jersey number “23” without his permission, and applied to China’s Trademark Review and Adjudication Board for the revocation of 78 disputed trademarks.

Since then the case has been through numerous hearings with different tribunals and courts. The dramatic and often see-sawing battle has been watched closely and seen as an analogy for the evolution of intellectual property rights in China more broadly.

Initially, it seemed it would be difficult for Jordan to force revocation for many of Qiaodan’s trademarks because they were more than five years old and in China, there is a five year limit for challenging trademarks.

On December 30, however, the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court ruled that Qiaodan Sports must stop using “Qiaodan” in its corporate name and product trademarks. The company must also issue a public apology in print and online to clarify it has no ties with Jordan and compensate the basketball superstar 300,000 yuan ($46,400) for emotional damage, according to a Xinhua report.

For Jordan-related trademarks that have been used for more than five years, Qiaodan Sports must take the necessary measures to indicate that they have no connection to the former basketball star, the court ruled.