US Edition
Columbia Sportswear Sues Columbia University Over Solo 'Columbia' Branding
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, AUG 2 – Columbia Sportswear alleges Columbia University breached a 2023 contract by selling apparel without required logos, seeking treble damages and a recall of infringing merchandise, the company said.
- Last week, Columbia Sportswear sued Columbia University in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, alleging trademark infringement and breach of contract.
- The lawsuit filed on Wednesday alleges Columbia University breached an agreement by using the 'Columbia' name without proper insignia a year later.
- Among the evidence are photos showing shirts and sweaters bearing ‘Columbia’ without university logos, using a bright blue shade similar to Columbia Sportswear’s color and mimicking products sold at more than 800 retail locations including over 150 branded stores.
- It calls for the court to seek a jury trial, demand the university cease sales, recall and donate merchandise, and request treble damages.
- Amid a funding deal, the lawsuit arrives as Columbia University seeks to restore federal research funds under a Trump administration agreement this year.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Columbia Sportswear Targets Ivy League University With Lawsuit
There’s a delicious coffee shop a few blocks from my apartment where the owners are very particular about where their coffee is from. The phrase “It’s COLOMBIA not Columbia” can be seen on a mug near the shop’s cash register. It’s not surprising that some people might confuse the spellings of a large South American country with a large university one borough over — and, based on a recent legal case, that isn’t the only case of mistaken identity …
Columbia University sued for merchandise confusion with sportswear company
Portland, Oregon-based outerwear retailer Columbia Sportswear has sued Columbia University over alleged trademark infringement and a breach of contract, saying that the university’s merchandise looks too similar to its own offerings and can confuse shoppers.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Columbia Sportswear sues Columbia University claiming merchandise is too similar
Columbia Sportswear claims Columbia University breached a deal the entities made in 2023 establishing how the word “Columbia” could be used on college merchandise
New York Post
DNyuzColumbia Sportswear sues Columbia University over merch in latest legal battle for Ivy
For decades, T-shirts, sweatshirts and other clothing under the Columbia Sportswear brand and clothing emblazoned with the Columbia University name coexisted more or less peacefully without confusion.
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