In a defensive play that might have been diagrammed by one of its best coaches, the NBA is asking the U.S. District Court to order the seizure of all counterfeit merchandise within 10 miles of the Delta Center starting next week.

The request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction names no names but says a small army of "John Does," "Jane Does" and "ABC Companies" are poised to saturate the area with phony NBA goods once the Utah Jazz square off against the Houston Rockets or Seattle SuperSonics.National Basketball Association Properties Inc. filed the petition Tuesday in Salt Lake City, arguing in its complaint it has no other recourse against the "predictable influx of vendors."

According to the court document, the nameless defendants regularly engage in the manufacture, distribution and sale of clothing, souvenirs and other merchandise bearing the NBA trademark and famous team logos.

Based on experience during All-Star Weekend and past NBA finals in Salt Lake City, the NBA said it could predict "with certainty" that the unknown companies and peddlers will be very busy during the Western Conference finals and, if the Jazz prevail, the finals.

"There is substantial public demand for such goods, and because of said public demand, the right to manufacture and sell such goods is a valuable commercial property right," the lawsuit said.

In fact, the NBA noted in the action that sales of authorized NBA merchandise total "over $1 billion each year." The sale of unauthorized merchandise could cost the NBA "considerably in excess of $50,000."

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The NBA said it didn't know who was behind the counterfeit sales or where they are based. However, it said they are involved in all facets of the counterfeiting enterprise, from manufacture to street sales.

Most of the phony goods are "palmed off" as the real thing, the suit said, though the merchandise is "mostly inferior" and always unlicensed. Also, some of the unauthorized items contain "obscene or otherwise objectionable matter," which damages the NBA's reputation, the suit said.

The NBA asked the court to order U.S. marshals and local law enforcement officers to "seize and impound any and all merchandise" along with the business records of the counterfeiters.

After the peddlers are identified, the NBA said it will amend its complaint to add their names. The NBA said it intends to bring the violators to court and seek treble damages.

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