[IP] Trademark Snafu, U of Georgia to lose name?
Begin forwarded message:
From: EEkid@xxxxxxx
Date: May 29, 2004 8:01:55 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Trademark Snafu, U of Georgia to lose name?
U of Georgia to lose name?
Friday, May 28, 2004
After 219 years, the University of Georgia could become the school
with no name.
UGA's already messy divorce from its fund-raising organization took a
nasty, unexpected twist Thursday: It turns out that the university
doesn't hold the trademark to its own name. Instead, in papers filed
last year, the University of Georgia Foundation has declared itself the
owner of all things labeled "University of Georgia."
In doing so, the nonprofit foundation asserted control over every
commercial use of the university's moniker, from UGA-embossed coffee
mugs to boxer shorts — to "education services, namely providing
instruction at the college level," according to its trademark papers.
It's not clear how the trademark filing will affect a yearlong dispute
over attempts by some foundation trustees to oust UGA President Michael
Adams. But the name issue puts a new spin on the state Board of
Regents' decision Tuesday to end UGA's 67-year relationship with the
foundation.
On Wednesday, regents' leaders said that if the foundation remained in
business, it could no longer operate with the university's imprimatur.
State officials described UGA's name as the regents' "intellectual
property."
But, at least in theory, the foundation could try to force the
University of Georgia, founded in 1785, to stop calling itself the
University of Georgia.
http://www.benmaller.com/archives/2004/may/28-
u_of_georgia_to_lose_name.html
-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as roessler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To manage your subscription, go to
http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip
Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/