Lionheart I'm Eggscellent 12775 Posts user info edit post |
we're gonna have to go off on the fuckers
http://www.technicianonline.com/media/storage/paper848/news/2007/05/31/News/War-Of.The.Logos-2910366.shtml" target="_blank">http://media.http://www.technicianonline.com/media/storage/paper848/news/2007/05/31/News/War-Of.The.Logos-2910366.shtml
Quote : | "N.C. State may take legal action against the University of Nevada for use of wolf head trademark
Cindy Sears received an email unlike any other she had seen on April 20.
As director of the University's trademark licensing for more than 10 years, Sears has received countless tips concerning possible infringements on N.C. State's 16 registered trademarks. In Sears' time at NCSU, the school has never had an incident with another university potentially infringing on its trademarks.
The e-mail changed that.
As Sears sat at her desk, surrounded by red-sweater clad wolves made out of everything from stone to paper mache, she stared at her computer with a look of astonishment.
She had just clicked on a link to the University of Nevada's online gift store. On the screen was a navy blue hat with a very familiar face.
The face on the hat was that of Mr. Wuf, NCSU's official mascot, Sears said.
"To me this is a huge infringement," Sears said as she pointed at a printed copy of the image. "This is the type of thing we'd turn over to legal counsel."
She said the image was identical to Mr. Wuf, right down to the last whisker on its nose and the last tooth in its growling smile. The face was the same as the faces seen on the dozens of pictures and knickknacks, each emblazoned with the official circled R, in Sears' office, she said.
Sitting atop the monitor was a stuffed doll of Mr. Wuf, State's official mascot, with its white paws hanging over the edge and its head flopped down toward the screen while the doll sported its trademarked N.C. State beanie and showed off its large, white teeth and permanent smile. Sears' face had no such smile.
As Sears sees it, the stuffed doll laying over the monitor's edge might as well have been looking into a mirror.
NCSU owns the federal trademark to the word "Wolfpack," the school's official nickname. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has more than 1,000 member schools, and only two schools have nicknames involving wolves, the N.C. State Wolfpack, one word, and the Nevada Wolf Pack, two words. As far as Sears is concerned, "the only thing they've changed was his beanie to a top hat with their 'N' instead of 'N.C. State.'"
E-mails seeking comment from the University of Nevada and its agent, Collegiate Licensing Company, were not returned in the last two weeks.
Sales of trademarked items in 2006-07 fiscal year generated $841,000 for the school, according to Sears.
Any company with a mark registered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office must prove that it has worked to protect its marks, or risk losing the federal license.
In 2001, Georgia Tech filed a lawsuit against a minor league baseball team in Salt Lake City over its use of the word "Buzz," as its team nickname. "Buzz" is the registered name of the school's mascot. Georgia Tech won the lawsuit and the baseball team was forced to change its name and pay the University $600,000, according to a Georgia Tech press release.
The cost to officially register a trademark is $350 for each category in which a mark is registered. A mark must be renewed every 10 years. The Mr. Wuf head wearing the beanie has been registered in the paper products, apparel and sporting goods categories. The school's most dominant trademark, the "Block S," is registered in 14 categories, ranging from metal key rings to furniture.
The head of Mr. Wuf sporting a beanie is one of five secondary athletic marks registered to NCSU. According to federal trademark documents, the University did not federally register the face until 2005. However, its first use was claimed in 1965, meaning that NCSU can retroactively claim the logo as an official mark for the past 42 years, Sears said.
One way the University protects its marks is by preventing any alteration of them.
"One of our colleges wanted to put a tux on the 'Strutting Wolf' logo," Sears said. "But, we said 'no,' because the official mark has him wearing the sweater with the 'Block S' on it." Sears said keeping the marks exactly as they appear on federal forms strengthens future cases that involve infringement.
"By proving we are consistent in our marks we add credibility to them," she said.
Another way the school protects its marks is by preventing counterfeit uses, according to Sears. At every football game the University has officers who are sent to look for counterfeit products.
"Most of the time, we deal with someone selling from his car or underneath a tree at football games," Sears said. "But, in general, not a lot of that goes on."
"People are more educated these days about official trademarks," she said. "We usually don't have any problems. The big games, like NCAA finals, are where the big, bulk sales go on. But we always tell people not to buy anything unless it has the official seal on it."
NCSU is partnered with Licensing Resource Group, a firm that connects the University with retailers looking to sell official products. The firm also helps ensure trademarks are not being inappropriately used.
Retailers who sign with the licensing company become licensees. Each business is required to pay a fee to the licensing agent in order to become a licensee. In addition to the fee, the retailer must give 80 percent of each trademarked item sold to the University, Sears said. And 480 companies are licensed to sell NCSU merchandise.
The University uses part of this 80 percent to pay for the services of Licensing Resource Group. Depending on how much revenue the products generate, the school pays either 12 or 18 percent of its earnings to LRG, according to Sears.
The remaining portion of the percentage is put into two scholarship funds. The first fund is the athletic fund, which received $160,220 for the 2006-07 fiscal year. The second fund is the school's general scholarship fund, which gives out money for need-based, merit and study abroad scholarships. The general scholarship fund was given $216,000 this fiscal year, according to Sears.
Each year the percentage of money given to each fund changes based on the consumer price index. The most recent formula the general scholarship fund promised an increase of $55,000 a year to the fund until 2008-09 fiscal year.
To provide the promised increase to the general scholarship fund, the trademark licensing division must increase its profits five percent each year until 2009, according to the University's Division of Resource Management and Information Systems.
Each year, money not used to fund scholarships is placed in a cash reserve. This reserve serves as a safety net if the school fails to meet its expected revenues.
Sears said NCSU is planning to send a cease-and-desist letter to the University of Nevada to protect the value of its trademarks. If Nevada does not stop its use of the wolf head, Sears said litigation would be the next step.
For now, Sears said, Mr. Wuf has a twin in Reno. " |
6/2/2007 1:44:02 AM |
GenghisJohn bonafide 10252 Posts user info edit post |
What in the hell.
Not cool, Nevada. Not cool at all. 6/2/2007 2:01:28 AM |
machinencsu All American 2200 Posts user info edit post |
seriously they could at least try... just changing the hat thats just gay 6/2/2007 2:42:05 AM |
Saddamizer Suspended 5294 Posts user info edit post |
The NWO had the best Wolfpack logo
I like it better than ours 6/2/2007 2:45:53 AM |
WillemJoel All American 8006 Posts user info edit post |
wow.
wtf. 6/2/2007 9:25:26 AM |
dweedle All American 77386 Posts user info edit post |
itd be so awesome if we played them in the RBC this year
chants galore 6/2/2007 9:45:14 AM |
Wlfpk4Life All American 5613 Posts user info edit post |
Why is this an issue now? Nevada has used the Strutting Wolf with a top hat for years. 6/2/2007 9:53:00 AM |
bigTHEW All American 7330 Posts user info edit post |
^ Because obviously it is the first time it has caught the attention of the eyes of those who are concerned with copyright infringement for NC State. 6/2/2007 9:55:34 AM |
SkiSalomon All American 4264 Posts user info edit post |
Wasn't it a wolfwebber who brought this to the attention of Univeristy licensing? 6/2/2007 10:04:00 AM |
cockman Suspended 462 Posts user info edit post |
[old] 6/2/2007 10:29:19 AM |
spro All American 4329 Posts user info edit post |
^^ twas marko standing up for the people 6/2/2007 12:41:45 PM |
dweedle All American 77386 Posts user info edit post |
marko is all over the logo and trademark stuff 6/2/2007 1:16:40 PM |
CharlieEFH All American 21806 Posts user info edit post |
aha
we could acquire that logo and piss off Wake 6/2/2007 1:27:42 PM |
Brass Monkey All American 13560 Posts user info edit post |
What would be great is if ESPN heard about it and reported on it, provided we are in the right and were the first ones to have the logo (which I'm pretty sure we were).
I could see it now. One of the anchors comes on and starts out, "In the NCAA there are a number of schools known as the Bulldogs, Wildcats, and Bears, but there are only two schools that call themselves the Wolfpack..."
[Edited on June 2, 2007 at 1:33 PM. Reason : ] 6/2/2007 1:29:41 PM |
thegoodlife3 All American 39306 Posts user info edit post |
somebody needs to tell whoever wrote that that mr wuf is not the same as tuffy 6/2/2007 1:43:09 PM |
Brass Monkey All American 13560 Posts user info edit post |
yeah that was one thing that irked me a little that they didn't know that the logo was known as Tuffy, not Mr. Wuf, but I guess it's an honest mistake that's quite common. 6/2/2007 1:50:10 PM |
nutsmackr All American 46641 Posts user info edit post |
The logo in question is not Tuffy.
The logo in question doesn't have a nickname. it is just wolfhead. 6/2/2007 2:41:08 PM |
CharlieEFH All American 21806 Posts user info edit post |
yeah that was one thing that irked me a little that they didn't know that the logo wasn't known as Tuffy, nor Mr. Wuf, but I guess it's an honest mistake that's quite common. 6/2/2007 3:15:07 PM |
J_Hova All American 30984 Posts user info edit post |
maybe cause tuffy is a fruity ass name
but i guess it matches, only a gay dude would rock a sweater and sailor hat with no pants 6/2/2007 3:27:17 PM |
Brass Monkey All American 13560 Posts user info edit post |
well it's Tuffy's head, whatever. 6/2/2007 3:33:17 PM |
Beardawg61 Trauma Specialist 15492 Posts user info edit post |
6/2/2007 7:23:41 PM |
kylesmyname2 Veteran 231 Posts user info edit post |
Don't forget to fine them over this one too...and while they're at it, tell them to stop using the American Flag as a template. I hate those flags:
[Edited on June 3, 2007 at 1:14 PM. Reason : -] 6/3/2007 1:10:39 PM |
BeerzNBikes All American 3736 Posts user info edit post |
^ rend. tear. burn. destroy. 6/3/2007 1:11:36 PM |
statefan24 All American 9157 Posts user info edit post |
I hate those fags 6/3/2007 1:35:48 PM |
Boss DJ All American 1558 Posts user info edit post |
heres the original thread on it
/message_topic.aspx?topic=473823
[Edited on June 3, 2007 at 1:43 PM. Reason : fdsg] 6/3/2007 1:43:02 PM |
bigTHEW All American 7330 Posts user info edit post |
no wonder i didn't see the original thread, it was in chit chat. I don't venture in there anymore. 6/3/2007 2:48:15 PM |
ewalk All American 1031 Posts user info edit post |
http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6625275&nav=8faO
Quote : | " RALEIGH, NC NC State "Wolfpack" Takes a Swipe at UNR "Wolf Pack"
June 7, 2007 09:56 AM
North Carolina State University wants to know if its snarling wolf logo is showing up on merchandise sold at the University of Nevada, Reno.
"Toughie," the cartoon wolf that wears a red sweater and a beanie, is an NC State trademark that is used on Wolfpack merchandise. Nevada's teams are called the Wolf Pack.
A mug shot version of the wolf looks similar to one seen on items including a welcome mat and cookie jar that Nevada's athletics department sells, only that version is blue and wears a top hat.
Cindy Sears is director of trademark licensing at NC State. She says the university's licensing agent has sent an inquiry to Nevada about the mug shot version of Toughie.
North Carolina officials say Nevada has yet to respond, and add that such issues are typically handled through informal means.
Nevada associate athletic director Kurt Esser says he hasn't heard from NC State, and adds that UNR's wolf design has been used since the 1980s. " |
I smell bullshit6/7/2007 9:40:36 PM |
Shivan Bird Football time 11094 Posts user info edit post |
Toughie? 6/7/2007 9:51:21 PM |
Aficionado Suspended 22518 Posts user info edit post |
even if they have used it since the 1980's
nc state can claim use since 1965 if the first article is accurate 6/7/2007 11:16:07 PM |
jamz0r All American 1612 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "North Carolina officials say Nevada has yet to respond" |
6/7/2007 11:33:12 PM |
timswar All American 41050 Posts user info edit post |
^^ if they can show that it has been used continuously since the 80's (and not just some one-shot thing that nobody paid any attention to) then a court can claim that since NCSU didn't make a fuss for 20-25 years then we'd have already forfeited our claim... 6/7/2007 11:36:29 PM |
sarijoul All American 14208 Posts user info edit post |
we didn't trademark it until a few years ago. 6/7/2007 11:40:52 PM |
jnpaul All American 9807 Posts user info edit post |
fuck em
lets go to court 6/8/2007 12:01:46 AM |
drunknloaded Suspended 147487 Posts user info edit post |
let me be the first to say [old]...i first saw this in april 6/8/2007 12:33:56 AM |
sarijoul All American 14208 Posts user info edit post |
well you aren't really the first, someone linked the april thread already. 6/8/2007 12:37:41 AM |
Jaybee1200 Suspended 56200 Posts user info edit post |
this should be their mascot:
6/8/2007 12:49:50 AM |
ncsuftw1 BEAP BEAP 15126 Posts user info edit post |
that gives me a headache 6/8/2007 12:50:50 AM |
gunzz IS NÚMERO UNO 68205 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "we didn't trademark it until a few years ago" |
it is hard for me to believe that said logo was ONLY trademarked a few years
i really really doubt that...6/8/2007 9:22:54 AM |
sarijoul All American 14208 Posts user info edit post |
this specific image was trademarked in 2005 or something. i think the technician article mentioned it.
Quote : | "he head of Mr. Wuf sporting a beanie is one of five secondary athletic marks registered to NCSU. According to federal trademark documents, the University did not federally register the face until 2005. However, its first use was claimed in 1965, meaning that NCSU can retroactively claim the logo as an official mark for the past 42 years, Sears said." |
[Edited on June 8, 2007 at 9:27 AM. Reason : 2005]6/8/2007 9:26:56 AM |
Lokken All American 13361 Posts user info edit post |
this is really lame
but god that article was fucking horrible. 6/8/2007 9:30:31 AM |
Thecycle23 All American 5913 Posts user info edit post |
No, it wasn't. 6/8/2007 9:35:58 AM |
Jaybee1200 Suspended 56200 Posts user info edit post |
^^ and ^
ohhh shit! fight fight! 6/8/2007 9:42:11 AM |
Lokken All American 13361 Posts user info edit post |
^^ haha did you write it?
Who gives a fuck about the shit on the womans desk or some stupid beanie baby she has on her monitor.
The article was crap. No wonder it was the technician. 6/8/2007 9:44:57 AM |
Thecycle23 All American 5913 Posts user info edit post |
Uhhh...no. 6/8/2007 9:45:39 AM |
jwb9984 All American 14039 Posts user info edit post |
plus whoever wrote it said the face was mr. wuf
no, it's tuffy, idiot 6/8/2007 9:46:03 AM |
sarijoul All American 14208 Posts user info edit post |
according to another thread, it's not called anything. 6/8/2007 10:15:15 AM |
qntmfred retired 40726 Posts user info edit post |
yeah and according to an article, it's called mr. wuf. doesn't mean it's correct 6/8/2007 10:35:50 AM |
nutsmackr All American 46641 Posts user info edit post |
^^^Tuffy is only the strutting wolf 6/8/2007 10:53:33 AM |
Lokken All American 13361 Posts user info edit post |
but is the strutting wolfs head not the exact same? 6/8/2007 10:56:52 AM |
uNC SUcks All American 6270 Posts user info edit post |
This is some bull shit regardless of who allegedly had it first and why in hell would we wait until 2005 to register it. 6/8/2007 11:56:42 AM |