SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Michael Jordan will take a trademark dispute with a Chinese sports firm to China's supreme court, lawyers for the basketball star said on Friday, escalating one of several cases accusing local firms of illegally imitating global brands.

The former Chicago Bulls star sued Qiaodan Sports in 2012, saying the sportswear firm located in southern Fujian province had built its business around his Chinese name and famous jersey number "23" without his permission.

Earlier this year, a court ruled in favour of Qiaodan over the trademark dispute, and this ruling was recently upheld by the Beijing Municipal High People's Court, an official at the Chinese firm and legal representatives for Jordan said.

Jordan will now take the case to China's top court.