University officials this year will continue to clamp down on vendors who sell counterfeit merchandise displaying registered trademarks at home football games.
University Police and other law enforcement officers patrolled the Michigan Stadium area at the Wolverines home opener against Oklahoma State and will do so at several other games this season.
The Collegiate Licensing Co., the
U-M’s national licensing agent, found last year that both licensed and counterfeit merchandise were being sold.
“Peddlers selling illegal merchandise are subject to criminal citation, criminal prosecution and seizure of their goods,” says Will Perry, assistant athletic director.
The University has registered all of its traditional trademarks with the state of Michigan and the U.S Patent and Trademark Office. Registration requires each trademark owner to enforce its registered trademarks or face the prospect of losing that registration.
“We use the registration process to control use of our marks and safeguard the reputation and good name of the University, thereby protecting these valuable assets,” Perry says.
The U-M has more than 400 licensees who must obtain the Univer-sity’s approval for each use and design of a University trademark, and pay royalties on their sales. Revenue from the sales is earmarked for the athletic scholarship fund.
