AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Trademark bullies? Many big colleges fiercely protect brands
Records gathered by The Associated Press show that some major universities send their lawyers after even slight perceived threat to their brands.
Texas A&M went after its own alumni association in 2016 because it trademarked a slogan with the word “Aggie” in it.
The University of Minnesota told youth basketball organizers in Minneapolis to rename their “Spring Jam” tournament in 2014 because the school already had a festival by that name.
Legal experts say those types of cases are becoming more common as colleges gain lucrative licensing deals that generate revenue from their brands.
Some schools say they’re only becoming more defensive as it becomes easier to sell counterfeit merchandise online.
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