Columbia Sportswear has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University over trademark infringement

• Columbia Sportswear has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University for breach of contract.
• The university sells products without logos, which causes confusion.
• The lawsuit was filed in the context of threats to lose state funding.

The company Columbia Sportswear filed a lawsuit against Columbia University on July 23 in federal court in Oregon, accusing it of infringing on its trademark and contract. It is noted that the mark used by the university is similar to Columbia Sportswear's products, which may cause confusion among consumers.

The lawsuit states that the university breached the contract signed on June 13, 2023. The agreement stipulated that the university could use the word "Columbia" on its merchandise only in the case that this word is accompanied by a recognized logo or mascot of the school, the word "university," the name of the academic department, or the year of establishment of the university – 1754.

Columbia Sportswear claims that it noticed a number of products on the university's online store that do not feature any logos. Many of these products may have a bright blue color, "which is very similar" to a color that is traditionally associated with Columbia Sportswear.

The lawsuit includes photographs of products that only feature the word "Columbia." Columbia Sportswear is attempting to stop the sale of products that violate the agreement, recalling already sold products and donating remaining products to charity. The company also requires a triple damages award, as specified by the court.

This lawsuit was filed at a time when Columbia University is under threat of losing millions of dollars in government support. Recently, the university signed an agreement with the Trump administration for a sum exceeding $220 million for the restoration of federal funding that had been suspended due to the fight against anti-Semitism on campus.

Tags: USA