On Sep 22, 2010, at 9:11 AM, Shane Ford wrote:
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said universities have a legal
obligation to defend their trademarks or risk losing them.
"Legally, you don't get to keep it if you don't defend it," she said.
<snip>
Under trademark law, universities essentially have a legal
obligation to police the use of their marks, said Elizabeth Rowe,
associate professor of law and director of the program in
intellectual property law at UF. Failing to do so could mean giving
up the right to stop unauthorized uses, she said.
Note the difference in what the professor said as opposed to the
spokeswoman.
The professor accurately points out that the requirement is that the
mark be "policed."
Licensing the logo to the high schools for a small amount qualifies
as policing, allows them to keep the logo, avoids any legal problems
and makes a few dollars for UF.
Or it could send threatening letters to state high schools.
Which alternative makes more sense?
-Zeb
--
GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions
2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions
2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996),
Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
