Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Michigan

College Logo Use

A friend of mine and I are considering creating custom painted wall hangings that involve the use of high school and college logos, for sale to graduates of high school headed for a college. The purchaser would specify the high school and college logos to be used. Can we do this without permission from the high school or college that may have trademarked their logo? Thank you.


Asked on 4/07/06, 12:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lawrence Graves Coolidge & Graves PLLC

Re: College Logo Use

Come on, you already know the answer to this one. It is the reason that the college bookstore can charge $15 for a $5 T-shirt. BTW, even if a school hasn't registered its logo as a trademark, it is still protected under the federal Lanham Act as a "common-law" trademark.

You can also have issues with copyright in the artistic portions of logos -- an oft overlooked issue.

Best wishes,

LDWG

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Answered on 4/08/06, 10:14 am


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