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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Why are we allowing these shirts to be sold?
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Athens Block
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Posted: 5/11/2015 6:23 PM
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http://www.homage.com/products/block-ohio

I've been seeing these everywhere for the past couple years and I just cannot figure out why we aren't doing more to stop it. Is Homage paying us licensing fees for them? Are they paying Ohio State for them (which would be WAY worse in my opinion). Are we simply looking the other way because Homage also sells quite a bit of Ohio merchandise? I get that tOSU was able to retain Script Ohio, but surely we didn't let them keep this too, did we?

It's summer and I'm obviously bored - but just can't wrap my head around this one...
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 5/11/2015 6:30 PM
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Athens Block wrote:expand_more
http://www.homage.com/products/block-ohio

I've been seeing these everywhere for the past couple years and I just cannot figure out why we aren't doing more to stop it. Is Homage paying us licensing fees for them? Are they paying Ohio State for them (which would be WAY worse in my opinion). Are we simply looking the other way because Homage also sells quite a bit of Ohio merchandise? I get that tOSU was able to retain Script Ohio, but surely we didn't let them keep this too, did we?

It's summer and I'm obviously bored - but just can't wrap my head around this one...
Ohio trademarked the arched OHIO. It's my understanding that the shirt you showed - and yes I've seen them in gift shops in the Cleveland and Akron-Canton airports - don't violate the Ohio-OSU settlement.
Athens Block
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Posted: 5/11/2015 7:06 PM
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This article seems to state that Ohio owns "OHIO" not just arched Ohio, but the actual word itself in relation to University and Athletics merchandise.

http://www.ohio.edu/ohiotoday/fall99/departments/green/di...
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/11/2015 7:13 PM
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Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more
http://www.homage.com/products/block-ohio

I've been seeing these everywhere for the past couple years and I just cannot figure out why we aren't doing more to stop it. Is Homage paying us licensing fees for them? Are they paying Ohio State for them (which would be WAY worse in my opinion). Are we simply looking the other way because Homage also sells quite a bit of Ohio merchandise? I get that tOSU was able to retain Script Ohio, but surely we didn't let them keep this too, did we?

It's summer and I'm obviously bored - but just can't wrap my head around this one...
Ohio trademarked the arched OHIO. It's my understanding that the shirt you showed - and yes I've seen them in gift shops in the Cleveland and Akron-Canton airports - don't violate the Ohio-OSU settlement.
They certainly violate the spirit of the agreement if not the letter. The letter of the agreement prohibits OSU from using "Ohio" on team uniforms and cheerleader uniforms (after the then current ones that just said "Ohio" wore out, which they now have, I think). I don't think it touched on licensed merchandise (which this might be), but it was certainly an implication. I haven't re-read the agreement in several months, so I might have forgotten a few details. At the very least, Rod ought to talk with his OSU counterpart, the new kid on the block, and 'splain to him the affront that these shirts bring to real OHIO fans and alumni. The original agreement was brokered on a president-to-president basis, so I think this should be discussed at this level as well. I think an amicable settlement might be possible, but we must raise the issue, because it won't be raised by the Evil Empire on its own.
UpSan Bobcat
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Posted: 5/12/2015 10:35 AM
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I think it's kind of tricky because it no way does the shirt indicate that its in regard to a university or athletics. Although you know its not what most people are going to think of it as, it could just be a shirt promoting the state of Ohio.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 5/12/2015 11:26 AM
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Some of you guys are amazing! You do realize that the State of OHIO has an official color? And that color happens to be? Gasp!!!! RED!!!!
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/12/2015 11:37 AM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Some of you guys are amazing! You do realize that the State of OHIO has an official color? And that color happens to be? Gasp!!!! RED!!!!
This must have been the result of conspiratorial legislation sponsored jointly by Oxford Tech and the Evil Empire. We need to start a petition drive for a statewide referendum on this.;-) We could ask for the state colors to be rotated between the colors of the different state universities. Ohio actually used to do this with license plate colors when you got a new, Ohio State Pen-made plate every year. In 1954, for instance, the plates were green and white in commemoration of the sesquicentennial of Harvard on the Hocking.
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Posted: 5/12/2015 11:38 AM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Some of you guys are amazing! You do realize that the State of OHIO has an official color? And that color happens to be? Gasp!!!! RED!!!!

So, you are saying that OSU is most certainly not entitled to a royalty on this shirt, with which I agree. Maybe no one is getting a royalty, and these shirts just use the state name, which is public domain.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 5/12/2015 11:44 AM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
Some of you guys are amazing! You do realize that the State of OHIO has an official color? And that color happens to be? Gasp!!!! RED!!!!

So, you are saying that OSU is most certainly not entitled to a royalty on this shirt, with which I agree. Maybe no one is getting a royalty, and these shirts just use the state name, which is public domain.
The OHIO Block shirt would not be trademarked by OSU, that's why this thing is being sold in so many places.
Pataskala
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Posted: 5/12/2015 11:45 AM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
Some of you guys are amazing! You do realize that the State of OHIO has an official color? And that color happens to be? Gasp!!!! RED!!!!

So, you are saying that OSU is most certainly not entitled to a royalty on this shirt, with which I agree. Maybe no one is getting a royalty, and these shirts just use the state name, which is public domain.
There's a disclaimer on the Homage page that says coupons can't be used for O$U licensed apparel so apparently Homage thinks it's licensed by A&M. Let's sue 'em for all they've got ... except their attitudes.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 5/12/2015 11:45 AM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Some of you guys are amazing! You do realize that the State of OHIO has an official color? And that color happens to be? Gasp!!!! RED!!!!
This must have been the result of conspiratorial legislation sponsored jointly by Oxford Tech and the Evil Empire. We need to start a petition drive for a statewide referendum on this.;-) We could ask for the state colors to be rotated between the colors of the different state universities. Ohio actually used to do this with license plate colors when you got a new, Ohio State Pen-made plate every year. In 1954, for instance, the plates were green and white in commemoration of the sesquicentennial of Harvard on the Hocking.
Wow!!! I know you are kidding somewhat, however the official colors of the State of OHIO are the same colors as presented in the State Flag.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/12/2015 11:48 AM
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There's also blue and white in the state flag:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Ohio

And, blue and white were OHIO's original school colors. ;-)
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 5/12/2015 1:21 PM
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I've seen these OHIO shirts for sale in several colors. Since I've seen them in airport gift shops, I never did associate them with either OU or OSU. Virtually every airport gift shop sells shirts with the state and/or city name.
Casper71
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Posted: 5/12/2015 1:37 PM
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Billy the Cat hits the nail on the head as far as I am concerned. When I see the word Michigan with that distinctive M printed on a shirt, I know who it is and what they are advertising... the institution. That's because you associate the distinctive print with Michigan. In the case of the word ohio on a shirt, unless I see the arched OHIO (or the diamond would work) I never know if someone is advertising the State itself the OSwho or OHIO UUUUUUU. I would have kept the U or used ONLY a very distinctive style of OHIO so people would start to realize what the shirt advertises.

My simple question is this:

Can any of you tell what the shirt in question is advertising? Is it the State of Ohio, the OSU or O-H-I-O? All of the above or none of the above? To the powers at be...please make OUr Ohio different and identifiable! If it is the arch O-H-I-O then show ONLY that everywhere so people know what is being advertising! Thank you.
GoCats105
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Posted: 5/12/2015 3:53 PM
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That link shows this shirt being sold in the "Cincinnati" section of the website. So, tell me, how is this in violation of the agreement between the two schools? It's promoting the state, not the school.
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 5/12/2015 6:33 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
That link shows this shirt being sold in the "Cincinnati" section of the website. So, tell me, how is this in violation of the agreement between the two schools? It's promoting the state, not the school.
Agree. Whenever I've seen those OHIO shirts in airport shops, they are positioned with items promoting the state and city - not anywhere near the otherwise ubiquitous OSU merchandise. BTW, they also look cheaply made.
Last Edited: 5/13/2015 12:03:46 PM by Mike Johnson
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 5/12/2015 6:41 PM
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I've seen several hats over the last six months or so, both here and in or around Columbus that have the scarlet and gray block O, which I think we grandfathered in in our agreement, but with the word "O H I O" written across the block O. Not only is it an ugly design -- sort of two logos at war -- it is also a very blatant attempt to say one emblem (easily identified block O) refers to the school mention in the other logo -- the aforementioned "O H I O." It's enough to make you puke. I nearly said something to one of the men wearing one of these monstrosities, but he looked dumber than a rock, and I figured that he would not understand anything I said, plus he looked like a guy who if crossed would give me an upcut to the jaw. So discretion being the better part of valor at times, I punted and waited for a better opportunity to confront this minor evil.
Pataskala
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Posted: 5/12/2015 8:30 PM
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Shawn Sellers
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Posted: 5/12/2015 9:09 PM
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Just an interesting tidbit, Homage was started by an Ohio University graduate...

http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1666-t-shirt-startup-suc...
mcbin
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Posted: 5/12/2015 10:14 PM
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Anyone who follows Homage knows that while they do a fair amount of collegiate licensed shirts, they also appear to walk the fine line of doing a lot of things that would seem to be related to an item/school/etc that would require license, but probably does not. Dancing in the gray area so to speak. Seems very common at Homage. This Ohio shirt is a perfect example but you could probably find many more.
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 5/13/2015 2:47 AM
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If any of you sell a t-shirt with my name or license, I will be all over you legalrememedieslawsuit for my cut.
OU_Country
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Posted: 5/13/2015 8:37 AM
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mcbin wrote:expand_more
Anyone who follows Homage knows that while they do a fair amount of collegiate licensed shirts, they also appear to walk the fine line of doing a lot of things that would seem to be related to an item/school/etc that would require license, but probably does not. Dancing in the gray area so to speak. Seems very common at Homage. This Ohio shirt is a perfect example but you could probably find many more.

Exactly what I was thinking. Change the font, or the shade of red or green a little, and maybe suddenly it's not subject to the trademark agreements.
OrlandoCat
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Posted: 5/13/2015 9:14 AM
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Casper71 wrote:expand_more
My simple question is this:

Can any of you tell what the shirt in question is advertising? Is it the State of Ohio, the OSU or O-H-I-O? All of the above or none of the above? To the powers at be...please make OUr Ohio different and identifiable! If it is the arch O-H-I-O then show ONLY that everywhere so people know what is being advertising! Thank you.
I'll bite.

Since it's a red 'Ohio' on a grey background, my first and immediate thought is Ohio State - because of branding.

Since this thread exists, I'm going to guess I'm not the only one.

I don't care if it was located in the 'Sheboygan Wisconsin' section of the website or not. When you chose to throw some form of scarlet and grey together with the word 'Ohio,' people think Ohio State. Ohio State has put a lot of promotion and effort into having people associate scarlet/red and grey with thier university.

So sure, argue that this is just advertising the state, just so long as you admit that the color scheme and style of the shirt are a creative way of getting around trademarking.
GoCats105
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Posted: 5/13/2015 10:40 AM
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Shawn Sellers wrote:expand_more
Just an interesting tidbit, Homage was started by an Ohio University graduate...

http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1666-t-shirt-startup-suc...
And they sell a TON of Ohio University gear. My closet and and dresser are full of their products. They go as far as to having a sale on Founder's Day, which is pretty awesome considering only alumni and those close to the school even know what that is.
Last Edited: 5/13/2015 10:41:15 AM by GoCats105
Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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Posted: 5/13/2015 12:43 PM
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When I ordered a shirt from them I got a pack of early 1990s pop star cards in the box. Got GWAR and Vanilla Ice trading cards. So I'm cool with Homage.
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