University of Alabama Files Trademark Suit

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees and Paul W.Bryant Jr. recently filed a federal trademark infringement and unfaircompetition lawsuit aimed at keeping merchandise made by Houndstooth MafiaEnterprises off store shelves. 

The company’s merchandise uses the Houndstooth Mafia logoalong with a houndstooth pattern background. The University and Bryant complain the merchandise is likely to misleadprospective purchasers into believing they have authorized it in some manner.  They also believe the term “mafia” isoffensive.

The lawsuit also seeks to overturn a ruling by the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Trial and Appeal Board that allowed theHoundstooth Mafia’s trademark application to go forward.  The Board found that the houndstooth patterndid not infringe on the university’s merchandise because the university had notrademark right to the pattern.  It alsofound the term “mafia” to be descriptive of Alabama fans and not disparaging toCoach Paul “Bear” Bryant or the university.

See Kent Faulk, University of Alabama Trustees and Paul W.Bryant Jr. in Legal Fight with Houndstooth Mafia, AL.com, Sept. 23, 2013.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorneyat Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to myattention.