FSU lawsuit over Seminoles logo affects Atlanta area high schools (UPDATED)
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery but when it comes to using logos that resemble those of the Florida State Seminoles, FSU is apparently anything but touched by seeing its spear design and Seminole head images gracing a high school helmet near you. PHOTOS: Take a look at some metro Atlanta schools using collegiate-style logos.
The AJC’s Christian Boone reports that Rockdale County’s Salem High and Memorial Middle schools have reached a settlement with FSU that allows them to keep the Seminoles nickname for their sports teams, “though it may only be used when preceded by either Salem High or Memorial Middle.” The schools can no longer use the familiar spear design or Seminole head images.
The eventual cost to remove the emblems from helmets, uniforms, gym floors and other team-associated items at the schools could top $200,000, a Rockdale school board member told the AJC. Other high schools that could be affected include Creekside in Fairburn and Westside in Bibb County.
“We’re not trying to put them in a financial bind,” FSU’s trademark licensing director told the Macon Telegraph. “To get this all acknowledged is the main thing. If it takes five years, it takes five years.”
Is there a better way to resolve this issue? Share your thoughts about this issue here in our forum.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
98 comments Add your comment
J
March 21st, 2011
8:04 pm
I wish FSU hadn’t had to go to these lengths to get the images removed; I would guess that a letter was insufficient to convince these schools to stop infringing on the university’s copyright. What I find interesting, though, is that students would probably be disciplined and fail an assignment or class if they plagiarized on an assignment. I love it when adults fail to follow the basic rules they demand children obey.
Rix17
March 21st, 2011
8:10 pm
Why not have the High School and Middle School pay a “royalty” fee to FSU (like $1 a year), rather than spend $200K on changing everything. Don’t think FSU needs the cash, so why not foster some good PR out of this?
glenn
March 21st, 2011
8:14 pm
I cannot believe the pettiness that FSU has gone to in enforcing this…must be a slow day for the bureaucrats in Tallahassee. It seems a shame to have to spend education monies this way.
Innocent Bystander
March 21st, 2011
8:41 pm
I would expect nothing less from F$U.
Kevin O
March 21st, 2011
8:47 pm
“Why not have the High School and Middle School pay a “royalty” fee to FSU (like $1 a year), rather than spend $200K on changing everything. Don’t think FSU needs the cash, so why not foster some good PR out of this?”
You, sir, need to be hired as the new PR Director at FSU! Nice Comment!
waynester
March 21st, 2011
8:52 pm
FSU has an unique trademark and they’re trying to stop the misappropriation of their property. A lot of other institutions will find themselves in similar situations to FSU and I’m sure they’ll fight against infringement, too.
Valtool
March 21st, 2011
8:58 pm
The problem is less that FSU has had to go to this length to protect a copyrighted logo than it is that people like the Rockdale county school board member feels it’s okay to steal if you are a small individual stealing from a large group. “I thought it was a joke,” said school board member Darlene Hotchkiss, referring to the cease and desist order. “Why are they going after the little guys?”
Darlene, they are going after the little guys because the little guys are stealing.
Steve Spurrier
March 21st, 2011
9:01 pm
Who wants to be associated with Free $hoes University anyway?
Jay Stone
March 21st, 2011
9:09 pm
This isn’t the first time this has happened. Penn State, Florida, and the University of Texas have all pursued copyright relief from high schools using their logos (anyone listening at Kell?). It seems extremely petty, but the trouble is they have to establish a pattern of protecting their copyright so that when they get to a case that actually has something on the line for the university, it can then say it has been consistent on the copyright point. What I haven’t read is where the athletic apparel reps come into play, because it would seem they profited off selling these logos to the high schools. Are the colleges going after them?
cantondawg
March 21st, 2011
9:13 pm
I could see why they would be mad if another college or professional team used their logo. But for goodness sakes, this is a high school in atlanta. How in the world can they be competing or cost FSU any money. This is pretty pathetic how a school thinks it has a word or a picture trademarked.
BehindEnemyLines
March 21st, 2011
9:26 pm
Valtool got this one on the first try, hard to believe that anyone can’t understand something as simple as this. I’ve wondered for years how Westside-Macon was getting away with such an obvious ripoff. The real surprise here is how many universities fail to live up to their responsibilities to taxpayers by protecting their marks.
USMC DAWG
March 21st, 2011
9:30 pm
Sounds like someone @ FSU needs to be sent a case of Tampax. I’ve never heard such b!tching and whining.
Jeff
March 21st, 2011
9:31 pm
Hey Enemy Lines… protecting their marks? Taxpayers? What planet are you from? Do you think that I, as a University of Georgia fan, would give two craps if a middle school in North Dakota used the Georgia “G” for their helmet, so that Grantham High School had a cool logo? Absolutely not!
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery… again, I ask you or Valtool or ANYONE… when there is evidence of this “hurting” Florida State and when somebody can tell me what they are “stealing” and how they are “diminishing” FSU’s tradition in sports… let me know.
Aren’t some of you the same people who say FSU should change their mascot and logo anyway?
MACD
March 21st, 2011
9:34 pm
UGA, would do the exact same thing if there was a school calling themselves the Bulldogs with a big G as the logo…
Stan
March 21st, 2011
9:34 pm
This is racist!
FSU owns the Seminole name
March 21st, 2011
9:34 pm
I believe they have an agreement with the Seminole tribe to be the sole user/owner of the Seminole name. They also have the blessing of the tribe to use the name.
As far as FSU being a bully about this, there really is no other way. If they did not come across as serious no school would probably take them seriously. Like the woman said, “she thought it was a joke”.
I don’t blame FSU. Seems like they are being fair in giving them 5 years and allowing them to use the name in a certain manner.
USMC DAWG
March 21st, 2011
9:35 pm
If I were a coach or administrator at any of these high schools, I would go to great legnths to never allow a coach or representative of FSU on campus to recruit a student. You want to recruit them, fine, do it off campus.
Worm
March 21st, 2011
9:35 pm
F$U, You are not doing yourself any favors here..Extremely bad Pub for a program that hasn’t been revelant on the National stage for ten years..Here’s hoping Jumbo “Shrimp” leads you back to your Women’s college days..You were known in my day as the “SemiHoles”.
Jay Stone
March 21st, 2011
9:40 pm
Don’t be surprised if this is the early stages of a trend. I’d be shocked if someone at Lassiter isn’t reviewing their uniform schemes about now …
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/27/sports/football/27logos.html?_r=1
Mike T.
March 21st, 2011
9:48 pm
MACD
Georgia doesn’t own that G Logo, the Green Bay Packers do. However they pay
a royalty to the Packers.
FSU may have legal recourse, but it’s petty. These HS poae no threat to FSU.
FlyDownTheField
March 21st, 2011
9:49 pm
Folks, FSU really does have to do this to maintain their property rights; under US trademark law, if you do not actively protect your trademark from infringement you can lose it. The University of Florida has also done this with a high school in Florida (their own state!) so it’s not just FSU. The fault lies with the schools’ coaches and administration for illegally copying the logos to begin with.
Tom
March 21st, 2011
9:52 pm
The only issue I have is that Salem High opened in 1991 and Memorial Middle School opened in 1993 and it took FSU 20yrs to now decide they are now being infringed upon. The question should be why now and not years ago….
Mike T.
March 21st, 2011
9:53 pm
I believe they have an agreement with the Seminole tribe to be the sole user/owner of the Seminole name. They also have the blessing of the tribe to use the name.
The Seminole tribe of FL is okay with it, however the Oklahoma Seminoles
are against it.
Mark C
March 21st, 2011
9:57 pm
What are Georgia schools doing with a tribe of Florida indians as a mascot anyway?
AlaNole
March 21st, 2011
9:59 pm
Ummm…FSU is not the only university being forced by their legal dept to do this. When you have a unique logo you have to protect it, simple as that. This battle has been going on Florida high schools between FSU, UF and Miami for a few months now. It sucks, but that’s our legal world unfortunately.
I’m pretty sure when UGA wanted to use the oval “G”, they had to get permission from Green Bay first.
ATLNOLE
March 21st, 2011
10:01 pm
Worm you’re an idiot. I bet you’re days were a long long time ago and your boyfriend was probably upset with you cheating on him with women at FSU.
enick755
March 21st, 2011
10:30 pm
How about renaming the two teams “The Cherokees”?
Once again it's the lawyers
March 21st, 2011
10:37 pm
Where does it stop?
Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot?
March 21st, 2011
11:02 pm
Anyone remember what happened to South Carolina last year? They didn’t actively protect the interlocking SC and now they can no longer use it. Even though Southern Cal had a different looking script So Carolina can no longer use it. The judges ruled in favor of Southern Cal even though South Carolina has been associated with the SC even before Southern Cal was founded. It pays much better to be proactive!
Brian Johnson
March 21st, 2011
11:10 pm
All of you are missing the point. It’s one of Atlanta’s finest establishments doing this: Collegiate Licensing Company. They are the haters here. Not FSU. Why target ATL-area schools? Because daddy lawyer’s boy just lost a baseball game to the school in Rockdale county. It’s simple retaliation and greed run amok.
randall
March 21st, 2011
11:26 pm
it will be a cold day in H#ll before my child goes to a school that pulls that stunt. regardless of trademark, there is such thing as integrity…
Kyle
March 21st, 2011
11:49 pm
FSU takes its association with the Seminole Tribe of Florida very seriously. With the school already on slippery ground with the NCAA over its use of Native American imagery, I find no problem with the school defending the honor and intergrity of the Tribe’s symbols and imagery it worked so hard to defend and uphold
Mac
March 22nd, 2011
12:31 am
I did not know that an arrowhead symbol with the exclusive property of the Seminole Tribe, Just what would give them the right to that symbol over any other tribe?
doug
March 22nd, 2011
1:40 am
bottome line is..these school are breaking the law..and they knew that when they painted their gym floors or what not..too bad!
qirin
March 22nd, 2011
4:22 am
Kyle…you have got to be joking! FSU is “defending the honor and intergrity[sic] of the Tribe’s symbols and imagery”? Are you really that naive? That arrogant crap college doesn’t give a rat’s patooty about Native Americans. All they care about is maintaining exclusive merchandising rights and they’ve managed to buy off a few key tribal members to do it. I find it disgusting in this day and age that so many people still think it’s okay to appropriate native Americans as mascots. I know! To avoid problems with FSU, these schools could call their teams “The Negroes.” Or how about “The Latinos”? Nobody would have a problem with that would they?
zoe
March 22nd, 2011
5:49 am
This has been coming for a while. There was an article about it in the NYT in November. FSU isn’t the only school doing this. UF is another one mentioned. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/27/sports/football/27logos.html?_r=1
zoe
March 22nd, 2011
5:54 am
Saw someone else mentioned the article, its early in the morning, sorry. What about another high school stealing colors and a mascot? There is a school in the county next to ours that uses the same colors and mascot our school does. The parents of that school chose it because they all graduated from the first school.
Devildog
March 22nd, 2011
7:01 am
Wonder if they’ll go after the Braves fans next. Make them stop the chant and the tomahawk chop.
Flip
March 22nd, 2011
7:23 am
In addition to my above post, through additional research, I can find no confirmation that UGA “pays” the Packers for use of the oval G.
JoeV
March 22nd, 2011
7:46 am
FSU OWNS the trademarks! What don’t you people get? If you owned trademarks worth millions of dollars I would imagine you would want to protect them as well.
mgdawg
March 22nd, 2011
8:03 am
This is very, very petty stuff. Bad PR, not to mention this is terrible for recruiting. Do you think FSU will be able to get any recruit from these schools after this? Atleast give the schools more then 6 months to do away with the logo, or although this would probably be illegal, help them out with getting rid of the logo. Having high schools use your same logo in my mind is nothing but beneficial, there are probably many people in that town that buy FSU merchandise to wear to sporting events, not to mention there are probably some kids that want to go to school at FSU since their schools have the same theme. Just dumb.
ConVick
March 22nd, 2011
8:12 am
This is a no brainer and stupid to boot. The schools knew what they were doing when they picked their mascots. Its not like it was similiar to FSU, it was their mascot with a feather attached. Its called a trademark and though I could give a rats butt about FSU, they have the right to protect it. It just like todays pop artists ripping off beats from songs 20 to 30 years ago and changing it up just a little and coming out with a new song, and then they wonder why there getting sued. If their not getting sued, then they “PAID” them for the rights.
John
March 22nd, 2011
8:15 am
For those interested, Sprayberry High School in Cobb County has an agreement with Georgia Tech to use the “Buzz” logo as well as the “Yellow Jackets” nickname. Here in Gwinnett, Lanier High School and Lanier Middle also has agreement with University of Texas to use the Longhorn logo as well.
It pays to ASK first.
James
March 22nd, 2011
8:42 am
Per the Rockdale newspaper article (which actually reported all of the facts) linked in the AJC article, the school has EIGHT YEARS to replace its band uniforms and FIVE YEARS to replace its wall/floor emblems. These would likely be replaced anyway within these time frames. The football helmets and baseball caps may not use the emblems next year, but stickers/caps are purchased each year anyway. The financial ramifications of this for the school are being way overblown — FSU is merely asking them to use up what they have, but don’t use it any more.
Dan
March 22nd, 2011
8:46 am
F$U F$U F$U Show me the money !!!
Ghostrider
March 22nd, 2011
8:50 am
@ JOEV
Who cares….
Gretchen
March 22nd, 2011
8:50 am
I say let the High Schools keep the Seminoles name. At least that poor tribe can have one team named after it that actually wins games!
Kat
March 22nd, 2011
8:51 am
If they used the exact same Georgia Bulldog logo UGA would be doing the same thing! You think someone would have checked with FSU first before putting the exact same logo on their helmets, uniforms, floors, etc. FSU OWNS the trademarks! Try putting an apple on the helment and see what Mac does…..
4aaa
March 22nd, 2011
8:52 am
FSU has settled with a florida school for a 1$ fee….why could they not do the same in this case
Furious Styles
March 22nd, 2011
8:55 am
This never would have happened under Bobby Bowden’s and Will Proctor’s watch. Take notice.
What the ?
March 22nd, 2011
8:58 am
Georgia Tech also went after a High School in the Augusta area for using GT on their uniforms and gym floor. Of course, why would anyone want to use GT on anything? In this case, the high school was the one being damaged by any perceived association with the North Avenue Trade School.
zack
March 22nd, 2011
9:09 am
Got news for ya folks. FSU is not the only school to do something like this. Also, NFL teams do these crap all the time too. The only reason it is being reported is because it is FSU. There are other colleges that have done this. So, Mr. Reporter how about doing more research.
Reasonable Prudent Person
March 22nd, 2011
9:11 am
I can’t imagine that profits are being won or lost here because of the high schools’ use of the logo. Copyright infringement has an exception for schools (this is being broadly stated), and trademark infringement should be drawn more narrowly than copyright. Thus, without any market effects, the suit seems pointless. What am I missing? Nobody is confusing Westside High for FSU. The only winners in this lawsuit are the attorneys, because they get paid. Trademarks are “ownable” for a reason, and none of those reasons are being lost when public high schools mimic those trademarks.
The Stogs
March 22nd, 2011
9:15 am
So we’re forgiving “little high school kids
because their school broke the law? There’s a good lesson here for these kids. Don’t steal other people’s property. FSU doesn’t want money, it wants the logos removed. Simple as that. I’m sure things would have been different if people in the Rockdale school system had approach Florida State from the out-set.
na na nanana....na na na....na nanana....
March 22nd, 2011
9:16 am
the boy scouts should send FSU a cease and desist for using an arrow logo. the boy scouts have been using an arrow for the “order of the arrow” logo for more than 90 years. don’t think the women at Florida Womens College were playing ball 90 years ago.
greg
March 22nd, 2011
9:23 am
Appears to be a case of the lost adults of Rockdale County. Notice that letters have been sent to other schools on behalf of other universities as well, only these oafs have responded in a manner such as this. Board members don’t even have the facts straight and are making childish comments, perhaps this is why their budget is out of control, immaturity and lack of basic business knowledge. “Liz Maryanski, FSU’s interim vice president for university relations, was caught off guard by comments from Hotchkiss and other school board members. She said she had received an email from the school district’s attorney last week that said it had been a pleasure to work with FSU.
“Frankly, (the newspaper story) surprised me,” she said.
Collegiate Licensing Co., which represents FSU and scores of other major universities, sent letters in August with FSU’s approval to all five high schools that have been identified as using near-exact replicas of the Chief Osceola symbol or Seminole nickname. The schools were asked to stop using FSU’s trademark logo and brand, and to submit a plan for addressing the issue. Similar letters were sent on behalf of University of Florida and numerous other schools.
FSU has never sued any high school on this issue, and it has agreed to multi-year phase-out plans in both settlements.
The university has also approved plans from two other Georgia high schools, Creekside in Fairburn and Westside in Macon, but paperwork hasn’t been submitted to FSU. Neither proposal has prompted a peep of protest. Nor has a plan from a high school in Ohio.
Sherri Dye, director of trademark licensing at FSU, said the university has stressed that it isn’t threatening litigation with the high schools. It’s important that FSU is able to control its trademark logo and brand, she added.
“In hindsight, because the other two went well we thought (Rockdale) would go well,” Maryanski said. “I talked to the principal in Ohio this morning and told him it’s not our intent to cost you money.”
FSU right
March 22nd, 2011
9:24 am
Florida State fan goes into a store and buys a t-shirt and hat with the Seminole logo on them. Florida State rep comes in behind the fan and says to the store owner, “You need to pay a royalty to FSU for selling items with our logo”. Store owner says, “No I don’t because the hat and t-shirt were sold to a high school student from Salem High School”.
Get it yet?????
Megan
March 22nd, 2011
9:30 am
For those that didnt already know it, UGA does not own the trademark to its “G.” Green Bay does and offers them and Grambling limited permission to use it. I agree with allowing a royalty to use the FSU logo, but even better, why not encourage the students to use their creativity and design their own logo?
gatorscott
March 22nd, 2011
9:33 am
Typical Seminoles…but they shouldn’t stop there…Oconnee County…Cherokee…Jenkins…Westside Macon… Baldwin …Lumpkin Co…White Co…Walnut Grove…Vidalia…Dodge County…Cross Keys and Charlton County all have a version of the Seminole spears on the helmets…
This could be very expensive for Georgia Schools
Go Gators!
bobby bowden
March 22nd, 2011
9:35 am
frankly the schools should change their logo and nickname. why be linked to the FSU Criminals?
K-From Da Wood
March 22nd, 2011
9:36 am
These mascots have been in place for years. There is no way that a consumer looking for FSU apparel will associate or mistake Salem for FSU or of being affiliated with the university. This is a total waist of money all the way around. FSU should be ashamed. Are they suing the uniform manufacturer that have the logos in stock all over the world? They are not losing a penny in revenue or an ounce of brand recognition…but after all they are all about higher education right????
Flip
March 22nd, 2011
9:37 am
Megan….
The University of Georgia DOES hold some rights to the logo and was not required to remove the “G” logo as Grambling State was because Vince Dooley slightly redesigned the “G” logo in 1964. Green Bay’s current, redesigned “G” logo is modeled after the University of Georgia’s redesign of the original “G” logo.
See my other post on page 1.
BerryDawg
March 22nd, 2011
9:40 am
Since everyone keeps referencing it, here’s the “official” story on the Georgia/Green Bay connection. Information is available at the following link: http://www.georgiadogs.com/ot/geo-traditions.html
The Georgia “G” Helmet
In 1963 after becoming the Bulldogs’ Head Football Coach, Vince Dooley redesigned the football uniform choosing a red helmet with a black “G” on a white background as the dominant feature of the new uniform for the 1964 season.
He discussed with his staff that a forward-looking “G” would be an appropriate emblem for the helmet of the Georgia team. Dooley had just hired John Donaldson, former Georgia player from 1945 to 1948, as backfield coach. John was keen on the idea of a new image and volunteered his wife, Anne, who had a BFA in commercial art from UGA to design a logo for the new Georgia helmet with the general specifications Dooley had outlined. Dooley accepted Anne’s original “G” which fit his vision for a forward look to Georgia’s new emblem.
Since the Georgia “G”- though different in design and color- was similar to Green Bay’s “G”, Coach Dooley thought it best to clear the use of Georgia’s new emblem with the NFL team. Athletic Director Joel Eaves called for permission which was granted. However, since its inception in 1961, the Green Bay “G” has been redesigned several times and now looks like Georgia’s original 1964 “G.” Georgia is proud that the Packers apparently liked the special nuances of the Bulldogs’ forward-looking “G.”
Georgia’s oval “G”, eventually replacing Georgia’s old block “G” as the official UGA symbol, has stood the test of time. It made its first appearance in the opening game in 1964 and was an immediate hit with the Georgia fans, especially after Dooley’s first three teams were so successful–highlighted by the 1966 SEC Championship.
DOUBLE G
March 22nd, 2011
10:09 am
This is MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Some may not understand copyright and trademark laws. But it’s a fact that the schools MUST protect their trademarks. If they don’t, the marks are subject to being diluted, and losing the right to protect them. Trademark law. Better know it.
Hindu Elvis Pimp
March 22nd, 2011
10:49 am
The best thing for the schools is to enlist their AV clubs in to producing a video, then let it go viral on You Tube. The embarrassment for FSU could cause them to change their mind. It worked for Rock Art Brewing when Hansen Beverage tried to litigate them out of business because they had a beer named Vermonster and Hansen had the Monster energy drinks. Within a week, Hansen Beverage backed off and Rock Art got to keep the Vermonster name.
Good Reason to Continue Hating FSU — Peach Pundit
March 22nd, 2011
11:08 am
[...] Criminoles have decided to bully some middle and high schools in Rockdale County, Bibb County and Fairburn into changing the logos on their helmets, uniforms and gymnasium floors. One high school may spend [...]
stop456
March 22nd, 2011
11:42 am
Do the FSU Seminoles pay the Seminole Indians a royalty fee? After all, they used it first.
heartofdarkness
March 22nd, 2011
11:59 am
The arrow logo on FSU helmets is eerily reminiscent of the old Washington Redskins helmets. Maybe all football organizations should be mandated to hire Creative Design Directors, who would oversee all symbolic representations in use by the teams and their fans. That would be job creation. And maybe anyone associated with football could be required to take a course in creative thinking. More jobs. I’m sure these communities have signature phenomena in their history attesting to their uniqueness. More jobs for archaeologists and anthropologists. Why America could solve its unemployment problems in no time. Or, we may choose to remain a nation of forgers, copyright infringers and copycats.
ReddJonn68
March 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm
How can anybody own rights to the heritage of a class of people WTF !!!!!
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
March 22nd, 2011
12:25 pm
FSU should be proud someone else wants to use their symbol, and not make a big to do about it…I think everyone knows the difference in high school teams with the arrow on the side and FSU with the arrow on the side….Steve Spurrier might have had these Seminoles dead to rights….
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
March 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm
The Stogs are stooges….My friends at Westside High School in Macon really hate to give up on the FSU logo because we have made 3 million dollars selling it on shirts, caps, etc….We will send FSU a check today for 3 million to clear our conscience….The Stogs shamed us into it…..
Bill
March 22nd, 2011
1:19 pm
I think the entire Ga State High School Athletic Association should protest the issue and all schools should boycott any FSU scouts coming to their schools for recruiting. FSU should have kept their mouth shut!
Longhorn
March 22nd, 2011
2:23 pm
I hope other colleges do not follow FSU’s lead. If that is the case a lot of schools will be forking over some big money. Kell and Lambert are some prime examples.
yohan
March 22nd, 2011
4:51 pm
Why not sue the company that came up with the designs for the school? They’re the one who knowingly ripped it off.
Chill
March 22nd, 2011
6:08 pm
Everybody wants to jump on FSU, but why can’t schools have enough originality to come up with their own logos?
NativeNole
March 22nd, 2011
6:20 pm
It is hard for me to belive that FSU is pushing this, I have spoke with the AD and others at FSU in the last six weeks about this type of issue. From everything I can gather is is LLC a division of IMG that is pushing this and I hope that this will lead FSU and the other Universities that have a business relationship with these IMG organizations to end the relationship, IMG has business dealings with Several ACC,SEC, Big East, schools and I hope this will have a impact their business dealing with IMG.
Jenn
March 22nd, 2011
6:57 pm
I think this is just silly. There are other schools that use symbols from other sports teams. Why does FSU get control over the word Seminoles? What about those native americans of that tribe? Will they get sued from FSU for using their name? Dumbness!
Jenn
March 22nd, 2011
7:01 pm
One more thing, in regards to the comment “why can’t the schools come up with their own logo”, the school’s focus is to promote college. I grew up with the bulldog as my mascot which got a lot of my classmates motivated to go to UGA after high school. If FSU doesn’t like the fact that these schools are advertising for them to get their admissions up, then they can just sit on their money pile with this dumb lawsuit.
Todd
March 22nd, 2011
7:50 pm
I’m sure there will be other stories of schools in violation…certainly the Georgia football helmet project webpage will help schools(colleges) ID violators of the infringement. Kell High School in Marietta should be worried about the Longhorn on their helmet. If I were at Duluth or Appalachee high schools I would be worried about the infringement going on there as well. Recently a school in Ohio has notified of their violation of the University of Pittsburgh’s logo on their football field. Imagine having to place a new turf field down, that has to be more expensive than a gym floor. If these HS would just follow the law, and make contact with the schools and create an agreement, then this would not happen.
pmuckle
March 23rd, 2011
7:55 am
seriously?
Mike
March 23rd, 2011
9:24 am
According to FSU, “High schools have been given many years to gradually comply, not 30 days, as has been reported. The deadlines for changes to be made were suggested by Rockdale County on behalf of Salem High School, and accepted by FSU, not dictated to them. FSU has provided the high schools with a royalty-free license for a period of 10 years, as they transition from the use of the Seminole Indian Head, Indian Maiden, and Spear marks. These changes are designed to not adversely affect schools’ budgets. FSU is very flexible with regard to the timeframe.” It’s a big, bad business world out there so I guess FSU has got to protect it’s piece of the pie!
Really
March 23rd, 2011
12:24 pm
GO NOLES
Really
March 23rd, 2011
12:24 pm
GO NOLES
Jackets21
March 23rd, 2011
4:38 pm
Totally classless FSU. Mimicking is flattery, silly rabbit.
Really
March 23rd, 2011
4:40 pm
Free Shoes University (FSU) at its best.
Jack b nimble
March 23rd, 2011
4:43 pm
That’s all we need now, college football acting like the NFL. These are public universities right? Should they be worried about maybe educating a person or two or more worried about sports marketing rights? What next, sue Mississippi State over uniform color infringement?
007
March 23rd, 2011
9:13 pm
This ranks FSU right up there with Auburn & Iran.
James
March 24th, 2011
8:40 am
Sounds like a couple of school board members are too lazy or incompetent (take your pick) to understand the deal. Excerpts from an e-mail I received from FSU …
“Florida State University would like to clarify the agreement that has been amicably reached following collaboration between Salem High School and the university regarding use of university trademarks, which has been the subject of recent news stories:
-FSU has never sued any high school on this issue, nor threatened to sue.
-High schools have been given many years to gradually comply. The deadlines for changes to be made were suggested by the high school’s officials and accepted by FSU. Florida State has provided high schools with a royalty-free license for a period of 10 years, as they transition from the use of the Seminole Indian Head, Indian Maiden, and Spear marks, a schedule designed to not adversely affect schools’ budgets.
-In addition, the schools can continue to use the Seminole and Nole word marks, provided they are used in conjunction with the school name, e.g., Salem High School Seminoles.
-Schools are not required to take down or change memorabilia that already exist.”
zack
March 24th, 2011
10:09 am
Ok you idiots ragging on FSU. Read the article that finally came out in which other Universities are doing the same thing. The newest article has now name UF and Mississipi that are doing the exact same thing. The only difference is the “violaters” are not in Georgia. So GatorScott, looks like your boys are NO BETTER!!!!!!!!!
zack
March 24th, 2011
10:22 am
Oh yeah and the NCAA licensing department that brought this to the school’s attention is in ATLANTA. Remember this all you Nole haters. It was not the Noles that started this, it was NCAA licensing department, here is ATLANTA.
aren't these PUBLIC universities
March 24th, 2011
12:46 pm
and therefore the PUBLIC owns the trademarks. And the PUBLIC schools should have the right to use them at no charge.
Boobie Bowden
March 26th, 2011
8:40 pm
Over here in the wasteland of Alabama, I have it on good authority that an area school pays a $ a year for use of the Tech logo and the Yellow Jacket name. Eminently fair. Tech defends its logo, and it really costs the high school nothing. The legal and preferred way.
Who cares (the original)
March 29th, 2011
9:39 am
I remember a few years back. UGA went after Grambling for using the G in their helmet. They soon found out that they didn’t hold the trademark for it, but it was the property of the Packers. They know that using the G in college with different colors for a different fan base would not affect them.
Colleges Protecting Logos | Commerce Tigers.com
March 30th, 2011
10:16 pm
[...] AJC story … comments are numerous & pretty funny. [...]
footballcrazymom
April 19th, 2011
4:33 pm
I don’t really care about the suit or any of that, personally. But, as the mother of an athlete, I can tell those of you that said the schools, coaches, etc. should never allow recruiters on their campus have lost your minds! It’s not the coach’s or the school’s call–if FSU offered my son a full ride for a free college education, that coach better not stand in his way!
Curious
May 2nd, 2011
3:12 am
Does Newark High School in Delaware have a license to use the Buzz logo?
As if there weren't enough reasons to hate Notre Dame - Page 2
October 20th, 2011
2:59 pm
[...] Penn State tries to stop Christian school from using logo – AltoonaMirror.com – Altoona, PA | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information – The Altoona Mirror http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-sc…-schools/?cp=2 [...]
Reimeyuette
February 5th, 2012
3:33 pm
buy best vuitton online suprisely