Kramer v. Comm'r

80 T.C. No. 38, 80 T.C. 768, 1983 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 93, 221 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 268
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedApril 25, 1983
DocketDocket No. 3911-79
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 80 T.C. No. 38 (Kramer v. Comm'r) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kramer v. Comm'r, 80 T.C. No. 38, 80 T.C. 768, 1983 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 93, 221 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 268 (tax 1983).

Opinion

Raum, Judge:

The Commissioner determined deficiencies in petitioners’ Federal income taxes for 1975 and 1976 in the amounts of $15,752 and $23,088, respectively. The sole issue for decision is whether certain amounts received by petitioner John A. Kramer during those years constituted "earned income” for purposes of the maximum tax on earned income and the computation of the maximum deductible contribution to a self-employment pension (Keogh) plan.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.

Petitioners, husband and wife, resided in Los Angeles, Calif., at the time they filed their petition. Because Gloria L. Kramer is a petitioner only by virtue of having filed joint returns with her husband for 1975 and 1976, references hereinafter to "petitioner” will be to John A. Kramer.

John A. Kramer, better known as "Jack” Kramer, is a former U.S. tennis champion. His competitive career stretched from 1935 to 1960, first as an amateur and then, beginning in 1947, as a professional. In that same year, he entered into a 7-year agreement with the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. (Wilson) pursuant to which Wilson was authorized to use his name, nickname, facsimile signature, initials, and/or portrait on tennis frames (racquets without strings), tennis balls, and other tennis equipment which it manufactured and sold.

This relationship has continued, apparently uninterrupted, at first through an extension of the 1947 contract and then by the execution of a substantially identical contract in 1959, which was also thereafter extended. The 1959 contract was the operative agreement between petitioner and Wilson during 1975 and 1976, and in relevant part it provided as follows:

Whereas, Wilson is engaged in the sale of tennis frames, tennis balls, and other tennis equipment and is desirous of acquiring the services of Kramer in promoting its sale of tennis frames, tennis balls, and other tennis equipment, the benefit of Kramer’s technical knowledge and skill in designing such products; and the right and license to manufacture and/or sell and distribute and advertise tennis frames, tennis balls, and other tennis equipment identified by the name, facsimile signature and/or portrait of Kramer, and/or any nickname which may be popularly applied to him;
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1. Kramer shall, during the period of this agreement or any renewal thereof, use in play exclusively tennis frames, tennis balls, and other tennis equipment manufactured and/or sold and distributed by and bearing the trade mark of Wilson; and shall use his best efforts to promote and further the sale of such products. During the life of this agreement or any renewal thereof, Wilson shall have the right to use for advertising purposes the fact that Kramer uses in play exclusively Wilson’s trade marked tennis frames, tennis balls, and other tennis equipment manufactured and/or sold and distributed by Wilson.
2. Kramer hereby gives and grants to Wilson the exclusive world rights and license to manufacture and/or advertise, sell and distribute tennis frames, tennis balls, and other tennis equipment identified by the name, facsimile signature, initials and/or portrait of Kramer, and/or any nickname which may be popularly applied to him. * * *
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5. It is mutually understood and agreed that Kramer will make appearances, including appearances at Wilson’s dealers’ stores, and will conduct clinics and exhibitions at the request of Wilson whenever it is consistent with the interests of both parties.
6. Wilson agrees to pay Kramer a royalty of two and one-half per cent (254%) upon the net sales per annum of all tennis frames and tennis equipment bearing the name and/or names aforementioned, manufactured and/or sold and distributed during the term of this agreement by Wilson or any licensee of Wilson located in the United States of America and/or the Dominion of Canada. Wilson further agrees to pay Kramer a royalty of five cents (5f0 per dozen on all sales of tennis balls bearing the name or names aforementioned, manufactured and/or sold and distributed during the term of this agreement by Wilson or any licensee of Wilson located in the United States and/or the Dominion of Canada.
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The royalty payments above provided shall be in full compensation for all services performed by Kramer hereunder and for all rights granted by Kramer to Wilson hereunder.
7. The term of this agreement shall be the period commencing January 1, 1960, and ending December 31, 1965. Wilson shall have the option of renewing this agreement, upon the terms and conditions herein stated, for an additional period of three (3) or five (5) years from and after January 1, 1966, by giving Kramer thirty days notice in writing prior to said date of its intention so to do, provided, however, that in the event Wilson elects to exercise its said option to renew it shall not be required to pay Kramer any sums as an advance against royalties to be earned during said renewal period.
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8. It is understood and agreed that in the event of Kramer’s death during the term of this agreement, or in the event that he shall become incapacitated, or for any other reason is unable to, or does not perform the services required to be performed by him hereunder, then and in such event Wilson shall have the right, at its option, to cancel and terminate this agreement by giving to Kramer or his personal representative sixty (60) days written notice of its intention so to do.

Wilson expected to receive from petitioner more than just the right to use his name, photograph, etc., because its approach to the use of a "name” tennis player as an aid in marketing tennis equipment sought to integrate the player into its overall promotional program. Thus, a player under contract to Wilson was considered to be "on call” to make public appearances on Wilson’s behalf or participate in other promotional activities. For example, if Wilson desired petitioner’s participation in a promotional event involving an important wholesale customer, it would check on his availability to attend the event and, assuming he were available, it then would coordinate a program of activities for him. These might include making public appearances, doing TV and radio interviews, participating in clinics for players and consumers, and coaching clinics for tennis teachers. In addition to these activities, petitioner assisted Wilson in other ways, such as testing racquets and balls for purposes of product development and quality control. Petitioner also appeared in print and television advertisements for Wilson. With the exception of the television advertisements, for which Wilson was required by a television union contract to pay petitioner a "scale rate,” petitioner was not separately compensated by Wilson (other than for his expenses) for any of the services described above; rather, his sole monetary benefit was the increased royalties from increased sales of the products identified with him.

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Kramer v. Comm'r
80 T.C. No. 38 (U.S. Tax Court, 1983)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
80 T.C. No. 38, 80 T.C. 768, 1983 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 93, 221 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 268, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kramer-v-commr-tax-1983.