Fenwick trademark group chair Sally Abel was quoted in the Law360 article “Universities Not Afraid To Push Sports Trademark Rights” (subscription required).
Law360 reported that Ohio State University sued marketplace retailer CafePress Inc. with a trademark infringement suit earlier this month, claiming rights in several marks.
Abel talked to Law360 about Ohio State’s suit, commenting that "They do take their symbols very seriously, and with the commercialization of collegiate marks and with the expansion of trademark law, colleges and others are constantly pushing the envelope of what constitutes a trademark and who owns it."
Abel continued, "The schools have realized that there is an alternative revenue stream aside from tuition and that is marketing and licensing their trademarks. They are going to push it as far as they can."