Penn State Wins Trademark Case Over Unauthorized Use of Vintage Logos

The university secures a $28,000 jury award and a key legal victory in protecting its brand from unlicensed merchandise sales.

A Pennsylvania jury ruled in favor of Penn State in a trademark case against online retailer Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc., awarding the university $28,000 in damages.
The lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused the retailer of selling products featuring Penn State's vintage logos and images without authorization, including T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise.
The defendants argued that the images were in the public domain and used disclaimers to clarify they were not affiliated with the university, but the jury found this insufficient to avoid trademark infringement.
This case was closely watched as a potential precedent for trademark disputes in the sports merchandising industry, with at least a dozen other universities pursuing similar claims against Vintage Brand.
The verdict reinforces the legal protections for colleges' trademarks and licensing agreements, though it remains uncertain if the defendants will appeal the decision.