Saw it Off!

March 28, 2007

Be careful when using the names and logos of other companies. It could be trademarked.

So I went on vacation for a week to KC where I did something I rarely do… picked up a copy of USA Today. Right on the front page was an interesting article about the Texas A&M students wearing tee shirts that have the UT logo with sawed-off horns.

Of course, this was yet another opportunity for attorneys to make a living but the basis for the case raises an interesting question.

Is it copyright or trademark infringement to alter the logo of another company?

There have been many times that a logo is used as part of a parody. In fact, here’s a site dedicated to it… (click). So where does it cross the line? And doesn’t the use of a logo parody, in effect, verify the brand recognition and reinforce the brand?

In the case of Texas A&M, there is more to it than just sawing off horns. Apparently, the rivalry between the two teams has gone back for eons – this may just amount to hurt feelings. Still… be careful when using the logo of others!

Update: A lawsuit about the logo parody was settled with an agreement by the merchant to slightly alter the logo and pay a $25,000 fine. So now we know . . . .

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