Ohio State Loses Counterfeiting Suit Thanks to ‘Amazon’ Argument

The Ohio State University failed to show that Redbubble Inc., the operator of an online marketplace, infringed its trademarks and former football coach Urban Meyer’s right of publicity, a federal court ruled.

Redbubble didn’t violate the Lanham Act because the company allows independent artists to design and sell items on its site, but isn’t the seller of the goods, Judge Algenon L. Marbley of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio ruled.

“In this way, Redbubble operates like Amazon, hosting a website where sellers can list goods for sale, and arranging for the shipment of goods ...