Posted on 01/24/2007 9:06:32 AM PST by DrewsDad
UT regents sue over 'sawed off' Horns parody
1/24/2007 12:42 AM
By: Bob Robuck
It has been a running joke on the University of Texas for the past 10 years, but now Bevo is putting his hoof down. An Aggieland novelty dealer is in hot water over what the University of Texas regents call a "mutilation" of one of the most recognized brands in America -- the UT Longhorn.
Fadi Kalaouze owns Aggieland Outfitters in College Station. For a decade he has sold T-shirts, notebooks, and other novelty items sporting the UT Longhorn with its appendages sawed off. He doesn't understand why UT would be so mad.
"It's like, 'Why now? You guys have seen it for 10 years and you
didn't say anything,'" Kalaouze said. "We really believe it's a
parody. You take somebody else's logo, and you make fun of it, and we believe it's protected by the first amendment."
UT is suing Kalaouze. Protectors of the UT brand said the Longhorn is a valuable intellectual property and that Kalaouze is diluting the logo's distinctiveness.
Some A&M students think there is another reason.
"I really think they're taking this last loss way too hard, and they're looking for something to bully us around with again," Aggie Matt Hinkle said.
But there are always two sides to every argument, and some UT
students said the parody is a gross misuse of a beloved icon.
"They're all envious of us, which is why they have to make
shirts making fun of us, so they can feel better about themselves," UT student Travis Pry said.
The lawsuit was filed in December at the U.S. District Court in Austin. UT wants Kalaouze to destroy the sawed off logo and not use it again. The university is also seeking an unspecified amount of damages.
FRIVOLOUS! (Stamping sound) NEXT?
I'm a diehard Horns fan but this is stupid. The Aggies kicked your butt. Get over it!
That' such bullsh*t. Typical tea-sipper thin-skinned nonsense.
A frivolous lawsuit 10 years too late to demonstrate how aloof and petty teasips really are. How appropriate.
Wow, I bet this has caused a huge spike in his sales! Nothing like free publicity.
They must be pretty proud of their intellectual property.
aggie ping.
TO FELLOW AGGIES AND FRIENDS OF FREE EXPRESSION EVERYWHERE:
Save "SAW 'EM OFF" letter.
http://www.sawemoff.com/DonorLetter.aspx
My husband bought this shirt for my 10 yr old. My son just loves it. =)
Saw Varsity's horns off - SHORT!
PING!
I'm not sure I could bring myself to say that phrase either.
Hook 'Em?
(Robt looks for Anna'z gar in Colorado River...)
(Hopes his dad (tu '53) and Mom (tu '51-'53) don't see this.)
"taco meat..."
LMAO
Sore loser t-sips. We beat them for the first time in six years and they start crying that we are making fun of their cow... after we "pasted" the antlers back on last year for their championship game... Bastids
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