Pac-12 Schools Hit Sportswear Companies With Trademark Suit

The universities in the Pacific-12 athletic conference sued Sportswear Inc.—known also as Prep Sportswear and Vintage Brand LLC—in the Eastern District of Washington, alleging the unauthorized sale of the schools’ branded college apparel.

The companies sell a wide variety of apparel and other goods online featuring college team names, color schemes, insignias, mascots, and logos. The goods include t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, pennants, drinkware, posters, magnets, puzzles, and many other items, the complaint alleges.

Licensing is “at the heart of” the multibillion-dollar branded college apparel and merchandise industry, the schools told the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. ...