LSU v Smack

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALSFOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 07-30580BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITYAGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE; BOARD OF REGENTSOF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA; OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY;UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAPlaintiffs-Appelleesv.SMACK APPAREL CO; WAYNE CURTISSDefendants-AppellantsCons. w/ No. 07-30887BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITYAGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE; BOARD OF REGENTSOF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA; OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY;UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; COLLEGIATE LICENSINGCOMPANYPlaintiffs-Appellantsv.SMACK APPAREL CO; WAYNE CURTISSDefendants-AppelleesAppeals from the United States District Courtfor the Eastern District of Louisiana

United States Court of AppealsFifth Circuit

F I L E D

November 25, 2008Charles R. Fulbruge IIIClerk

No. 07-30580c/w No. 07-30887

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ThePasadenaTournamentofRoseswasalsoaplaintiffinthedistrictcourt,butitwasdismissed upon joint motion of the parties and is not part of the instant appeal.

2Before REAVLEY, STEWART, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:Theseconsolidatedappealsconcernatrademarkdisputebetweenfouruniversitiesandanapparelcompanyanditsprincipal.The Universities allegedinthedistrictcourtthatthedefendantsviolatedtheLanhamActandinfringedtheirtrademarksbysellingt-shirts with the schools’ color schemes and otheridentifyingindiciareferencingthegamesoftheschools’ football teams. Thedistrictcourt granted summary judgment to the Universities for trademarkinfringementandconductedajurytrialastodamages,withthejuryreturningaverdictfavoringtheplaintiffs.Thedefendantsappealthesummaryjudgmentorder,andtheUniversitiesappealthedistrictcourt’sdenialoftheirpost-verdictmotionforattorneys’fees.We conclude that the colors, content, and context oftheoffendingt-shirtsarelikelytocauseconfusionastotheirsource,sponsorship, or affiliation, and we AFFIRM.

I. Background

TheplaintiffsareLouisianaStateUniversity(LSU),theUniversity ofOklahoma(OU),OhioState University (OSU), the University of SouthernCalifornia(USC),andCollegiateLicensingCompany(CLC),whichistheofficiallicensing agentfortheschools.

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The defendants are Smack Apparel Companyand its principal, Wayne Curtiss (collectively Smack).Eachuniversityhasadoptedaparticulartwo-colorschemeasitsschoolcolors(purple and gold for LSU, crimson and creme for OU, scarlet and gray forOSU,andcardinalandgoldforUSC).The Universities have used theirrespectivecolorcombinationsforoveronehundredyears,andthecolorschemesareimmediatelyrecognizable to those who are familiar with the Universities.

No. 07-30580c/w No. 07-308873Theschoolsusethesecolorschemesinmany areas associated with universitylife,includingoncampussignsandbuildings, on printed brochures, journals,andmagazines,andonmaterialssenttopotentialdonors.The Universities alsousethecolor schemes extensively in connection with their athletic programs,particularlyonteamuniforms,resultinginwide-spreadrecognitionofthecolorsamongcollegesportsfans.Each university operates a successful collegiatefootballprogram,andtherespectivefootballteamshaveappearedonnumerousoccasionsin nationally televised football games that have been viewed bymillions of people.Theschoolsalsograntlicensesforretail sales of products, including t-shirts,thatbeartheuniversitycolorsandtrademarks.In recent years, the totalannual sales volume of products bearing the school colors along with otheridentifyingmarkshasexceeded$93millionforalltheUniversitiescombined.The Universities hold registered trademarks in their respective names andcommonlyusedinitials.They do not, however, possess registered trademarksin their color schemes.SmackApparelCompanyislocatedinTampa,Florida.Since 1998 Smackhas manufactured t-shirts targetedtowardfansofcollegesportsteams, and itusesschoolcolorsandprintedmessagesassociatedwiththeUniversitiesonitsshirts.Smack sells some of the shirts over the Internet, but most are soldwholesaletoretailers and t-shirt vendors. The shirts frequently appearalongside those that have been officially licensed by the Universities. TheinstantcaseinvolvessixofSmack’st-shirtdesignsthatconcerntheappearanceoftheOUandLSUfootball teams in the 2004 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans,Louisiana, and the number of national championships previously won by OSUand USC. The district court described these Smack shirt designs as follows:•OU(2shirtdesigns): (1) “Bourbon Street or Bust” (with the“ou”in“Bourbon”inadifferenttypestyle)(front),“Showusyourbeads!”