Columbia Sportswear has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University, claiming that the school’s use of its trademark is causing irreparable harm to the brand’s reputation. The sportswear label alleges that the university sold merchandise bearing only the name “Columbia” without any qualifying marks, similar to their iconic branding.
The dispute began in 2023 when both parties signed a legal agreement to avoid consumer confusion over clothing sales. However, Columbia Sportswear now claims that the university breached this agreement by using its trademark in a way that may cause consumers to mistakenly associate it with the sportswear brand. The lawsuit states that the bright blue color used by the university is also similar to Columbia Sportswear’s iconic shade.
Columbia Sportswear gets its name from the Columbia River in Oregon, while Columbia University was renamed in 1784 in honor of Christopher Columbus.
Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/columbia-sportswear-sues-273-year-old-university-for-sharing-a-name