Bo Diddley [ tickets ] has filed a lawsuit against Nike, Inc., alleging that the company is illegally marketing T-shirts bearing the inscription "You Don't Know Diddley," the catchphrase of a Nike ad campaign that ran between 1989 and 1991 and that featured the blues guitarist with sports star Bo Jackson.

Diddley's suit alleges that Nike contacted his management in January of 1999 and discussed a possible agreement to continue selling the shirts, but no agreement was ever reached. Diddley's representatives claim they discovered that T-shirts with the musician's name and likeness were being sold in stores and catalogs and on the Internet in July 1999.

Margo Lewis, president of Diddley's management company, Talent Source, Ltd. commented on the suit in a press release: ''In the past, many entertainers of the '50s and '60s found themselves, for whatever reason, unable to protect their rights and at a disadvantage in collecting monies legally due them. We are no longer operating in that environment and will not stand for or allow similar abuses. This is a clear case of the big bully picking on the little guy. Apparently, Nike really doesn't know Diddley.''

Vada Manager, director of global issues management for Nike, said that the amount of royalties due Diddley is what's at issue. ''We are diligently trying to get this matter resolved. Nike has already authorized payment in the amount of $15,000 which we believe is consistent with the royalty arrangement and we hope this case never gets before a judge.''

Whether or not Nike had license to continue making and selling the shirts is also a point of contention. ''I think that's a matter of dispute,'' Manager said. ''We believed there was an agreement. I don't think we'd produce products without at least a verbal agreement.''

Diddley is seeking a minimum of $500,000 in punitive damages. He filed the lawsuit on April 13 in a United States District Court in New York.