27 Universities Join Fight Against Painter

If you keep up with College Football you’ll probably understand why this is a huge issue for universities. If not, can you say, money? Just note the huge hoopla this past summer over the potential coup by certain Big 12 football teams (read: Texas Longhorns) to the Pac 10. It basically boiled down to media agreements. Anyhow, in last week from Kansas University Sports:

Kansas University is one of 27 schools coming to the aid of a fellow school ensnared in a long court battle over trademarks. The 27 universities have filed a motion in the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to submit a “friend of the court” brief in support of the University of Alabama. That school sued Daniel Moore, a sports artist, alleging in 2005 that Moore violated trademark law in painting scenes from football games by showing Crimson Tide players in their crimson and white uniforms without permission.

In a nutshell: A district court ruled against Moore, who previously had a licensing agreement with Alabama. The district court ruling disallowed his use of Alabama’s trademarks on items such as T-shirts and coffee mugs, but allowed the sale of Moore’s paintings. The University of Alabama is appealing that decision. More background here.

Tags: Art Law, college football, copying, fair use, infringement