Penn State Wins Trademark Case Against Vintage Brand

Penn State University achieved a significant legal victory against Vintage Brand, an online retailer, after a federal jury found that Vintage Brand infringed on several of the university's trademarks by selling unauthorized merchandise. The jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages, reinforcing the importance of trademark law in the realm of college sports merchandise. This case, closely monitored by other universities facing similar issues, highlighted Vintage Brand's defense that the images used were in the public domain, which the jury rejected. Penn State argued that Vintage's products misled consumers into believing they were licensed, thus undermining the university's brand integrity. The ruling is expected to impact Vintage Brand's ongoing trademark disputes with other institutions, including several Big Ten universities. Following the verdict, it remains unclear whether Vintage Brand will pursue an appeal.