Patent/trademark

[lalogistics]

I want to put a logo from a sports team on my product. Can I do that if I don't include the team name? For example LSU tigers. If I put a tiger on my product and sell it around Baton Rouge I shouldn't have a problem huh? I mean they can't patent the picture of a tiger. Can they trademark certain designs of a tiger? If so where can I find information on that.

Thanks For Your Time:

[JKansas]

Maybe, yes they can, yes they can, I would guess USPTO, United States Patent and Trademark Office , would have the info on their site. It's been a whle since i looked up the specifics. If you are close to the school and become popular, the school will sue, right or wrong, you will lose. They have lots of money, they will bully you.

Here is a simple question: Would your shirts sell if it were not for LSU?

If your answer is no, then you probably owe them licesnsing or are at the very least on thin ice.

[Ryan424]

NO you cannot. LOGOS are TRADEMARKS

[Ryan424]

Let me rephrase that. If you use the EXACT same logo of the Tiger, you could get sued. However if you slightly alter it, even a tiny color variation, you should be in the clear. However I am not an attorney, so don't bet the farm on my opinion!!!

[lalogistics]

I was pretty sure I could alter is a little bit and be in the clear. I wouldn't owe the University a dime if I didn't use their trademark. Thanks for the input though, I did some research today on it and found some good stuff and cases where people have been sued for this type of thing. My product is in the clear though.

[JKansas]

That is partially correct. You have to change several things. For some reason the number 7 pops into my head. Things like reversing the image, messing with proportions, color changes, details left out, etc. However, I think this was an informal rule to make designers feel safer. I"m looking for specifics but no luck finding. It legally comes down to consumer confusion, which is why I posed the question I did.

Joe College in Lawrence, Kansas is a perfect example. If it were not for KU, they would not have sold shirts.

I'm glad you found your product is in the clear though.