Rob Nelson got the idea for Big League Chew in 1977, when he was pitching for the Portland Mavericks, a quirky and defunct minor league baseball team.

He and a Mavericks bat boy made the first batch of shredded gum in 1979. Since then, over a billion bags have been sold.

On Tuesday, Nelson and Big League Chew Properties began to settle a new issue: They filed a 44-page lawsuit against Ford Gum & Machine Co. as part of an intellectual property dispute.

Big League Chew and Nelson claim that Ford Gum, which has licensed the Big League Chew brand for 14 years, recently applied for a trademark for the shredded gum. They say the application violates the licensing agreement between the two companies and was filed after Nelson rejected offers to buy it.

“We cannot allow the Big League Chew brand to be misrepresented, misappropriated and tarnished,” Jeffrey Allen, attorney for Big League Chew, said in a press release. “Big League Chew is more than a product; is a cherished part of sports culture and we are dedicated to protecting its intellectual property so we can continue to provide the same experience fans have enjoyed for over four decades.”

Ford Gum did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The lawsuit was filed in federal court for the Northern District of Illinois.

“Big League Chew is a big part of my life,” said Nelson, who still lives in the Portland area. “And while we felt we had to take this step to protect our brand, our hope is to resolve this so that everyone can continue to enjoy Big League Chew for many years to come.”