Ivy League institute under fire for allegedly duplicating merchandise of well-known apparel company
Columbia Sportswear, a leading outdoor clothing brand with roots dating back to 1938, has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University over alleged trademark infringement and breach of contract. The lawsuit, filed in July 2023, centers on the Ivy League school selling apparel that uses the name "Columbia" alone without the accompanying logos or distinguishing symbols required by a 2023 agreement between the parties[1][2][3].
The agreement, signed on June 13, 2023, dictated how the university could use "Columbia" on its apparel and accessories. It stated that the university could use "Columbia" only if combined with identifiable university symbols such as the lion mascot, shield, crown, the word "university," academic department names, or the founding year (1754). This was meant to prevent confusion with Columbia Sportswear's trademarks[1][2][3].
Key details of the case include:
- In September 2024, Columbia Sportswear discovered the university was selling merchandise online without these required identifiers, including items featuring the "Columbia" name alongside the Nike swoosh, a competitor's logo[1].
- Columbia Sportswear requested the university stop selling such apparel but was allegedly ignored, prompting the lawsuit seeking recall of infringing products, accounting of profits from those sales, and damages[1][3].
- Many of the garments feature a bright blue color that is "confusingly similar" to the blue color associated with Columbia Sportswear[3].
- The university declined to comment publicly on the lawsuit[1].
Columbia Sportswear holds a federally registered trademark on "Columbia" for outdoor clothing since 1996[2]. The lawsuit and its underlying agreement raise legal issues including the enforceability of a letter agreement and trademark priority, since Columbia University, established in 1754, predates Columbia Sportswear. The university could argue senior rights to the name or that sales through its bookstore reduce consumer confusion risk[4].
Observers anticipate the dispute may resolve out of court with Columbia University simply adding the required insignia to its merchandise, thus complying with the agreement[4]. If successful, Columbia Sportswear intends to stop all sales of clothing that violate the agreement and recall any products already sold[3]. Moreover, Columbia Sportswear has stated its intention to donate any remaining merchandise to charity[3].
The lawsuit comes at a critical time for Columbia University, as it is threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support[5]. The university recently agreed to pay over $220 million to the federal government to restore federal research money[6].
References:
[1] Columbia Sportswear Sues Columbia University Over Trademark Infringement
[2] Columbia Sportswear Trademark
[3] Columbia Sportswear Sues Columbia University Over Trademark Infringement
[4] Columbia Sportswear Sues Columbia University Over Trademark Infringement
[5] Columbia University Faces Loss of Billions in Government Support
[6] Columbia University to Pay $220 Million to Restore Federal Research Funding
- The agreement between Columbia Sportswear and Columbia University, pertaining to the use of "Columbia" on apparel and accessories, emphasized the necessity of combining it with identifiable university symbols for education-and-self-development products, to prevent confusion with Columbia Sportswear's trademarks.
- In an effort to safeguard its trademark and maintain distinction from Columbia University's self-development merchandise, Columbia Sportswear requested the university to add identifiable emblems to their products and stop selling apparel that uses the "Columbia" name alone.
