Southern Miss logo flap for the birds
Published 12:01 am Sunday, August 21, 2011
Never has there been such chatter over a bird.
On July 29, the University of Southern Mississippi’s trademark application for its golden eagle logo was rejected, based on a University of Iowa claim of infringement.
The Hattiesburg school introduced the logo, a profile of a golden eagle, in 2003 and filed a trademark application to seek registration. The University of Iowa sought to block that application, claiming the bird looks too much like its Hawkeye logo. A three-judge board agreed, 2-1, with Iowa.
Both schools use similar-shaped birds of prey, facing right, with a similar color scheme. But the likeness stops there.
USM’s logo features an eagle with a bold, black outline, backward sweeping feathers, a fierce look and a downward-curved beak. It is a literal interpretation of an eagle.
Iowa’s logo is more abstract — broken into four pieces in close proximity.
The judges determined that both universities operate large NCAA athletic programs and seek to sell merchandise to a similar demographic of people.
Iowa is part of the Big 10 conference; USM, the smaller Conference USA.
Exactly how much Southern Miss merchandise is available in Iowa City and vice versa?
Iowa fans know their hawk, and USM fans know their eagle.
But the board believes “less knowledgeable purchasers are likely to exercise a lesser degree of care in purchasing the goods given the inexpensive nature of many of the products sold under the marks.”
Getting rid of the eagle would be costly for USM.
The school has until Sept. 29 to appeal. We hope they do.