University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders was recently deposed pertaining to a federal lawsuit over a fraud claim by the designer that created his ‘Prime’ logo.A lawsuit filed at the US District Court in Nebraska, Omaha-based graphic designer Alan Tipp alleged Sanders and his representatives fraudulently induced him to signing away his rights to a pair of logos he created for Sanders back in 2011.The logos in question were stylized text of the words ‘Prime’ and ‘Truth,’ which Sanders printed on clothing both at Colorado and his previous school, Jackson State.In the complaint, it’s alleged that Sanders began using the logos around the time he co-founded Prime Prep Academy in 2011. This same design was also seen in multiple commercial sponsorships Sanders took part in, including Under Armour, Gillette, Jeep, Lamborghini, Aflac, Boost Mobile and Motorola.Tipp initially filed the lawsuit in January of 2025, with an update on July 30 of this year saying Sanders was scheduled to be deposed.According to Front Office Sports, that deposition has since taken place. Sanders, his merchandise company, Prime Time Enterprises, and his talent/brand management firm, SMAC Entertainment, are all listed as defendants in the suit. Colorado coach Deion Sanders has been deposed as he faces a lawsuit accusing him of fraud Omaha-based designer Alan Tipp alleges Sanders and his team fraudulently induced him to signing away his rights to a pair of logos he created for Sanders back in 2011 The rights to the logos, including the ‘PRIME’ logo seen twice above, were signed under four conditions where Tipp was promised the chance to continue working with Sanders to design logos and apparel. Tipp says those conditions were repeatedly ignored by the coach.Tipp claims Sanders’ brand manager and an SMAC Entertainment representative approached him in December 2022. In the suit, Tipp claims the SMAC employee sought to have Tipp sign all past, present and future rights for the logos over to Sanders, who had just been hired in Boulder.In return, Tipp claims he was promised four specific things: 1) that he would become a part of Sanders’ brand/marketing team; 2) that he would help CU players build their own brands; 3) that he would collaborate with Nike on Sanders-related merchandise, including footwear; and 4) that he’d be retained to design an exclusive line of sunglasses tied to Sanders.In the suit, Tipp claims that Sanders and his team started to avoid him almost immediately after the agreement was signed. SMAC informed Tipp in April of 2023 that his services on the sunglasses line were no longer required. Five months later, Sanders and the sunglasses company Blenders released a line bearing the ‘Prime’ logo and led to $5million worth of sales in the first three days. Prime Time Enterprises, which claims ownership of the brand, has attempted to file a trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office as the wordmark ‘PRIME21′ – a reference to Sanders’ playing number in the NFL – which stylizes the numbers into the word.Five applications have been filed since February 2023, with two abandoned and three remaining active. Two others are still pending and yet another is registered. The logos were used by Sanders throughout his coaching tenure, including at Jackson State Tipp said he was promised work to design sunglasses before he was informed that his services were no longer needed. Five months later, Sanders and the company Blenders released an exclusive line of eyewear (seen above) which sold $5million worth of units in three days. Sanders and the co-defendants in the case are contesting Tipp’s claims’There was never any intention of utilizing Tipp’s services or compensating him for the creation of the Works upon Tipp’s execution of the Agreement,’ the claim reads. ‘Rather, Defendants’ objective was to fraudulently induce Tipp into relinquishing his rights in the Works so they could continue to profit greatly and unjustly from their use, at Tipp’s continued expense, and to attempt to avoid culpability, financial, legal, or otherwise for all of their past and continued use of the Works.’Tipp is seeking a judgement voiding the agreement in 2022 as fraudulently induced. He also seeks the cancellation of the trademark registrations, injunctions against further use and damages in excess of $75,000.Meanwhile, Sanders and the other defendants have contested the complaint. A status conference is scheduled for October 13.