By: Don Driggers

A surprising trademark battle has erupted between two well-known institutions that have peacefully coexisted for decades: Columbia Sportswear and Columbia University. The Oregon-based outdoor apparel company is now suing the Ivy League school over what it claims is a clear case of trademark infringement and breach of contract, the New York Post exclusively reported.

Columbia Sportswear, founded in 1938 and known for its high-performance outdoor gear and apparel, filed the lawsuit on July 23 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. The brand accuses Columbia University of violating a licensing agreement that was signed just over a year ago, on June 13, 2023. According to the complaint, the university’s campus merchandise has begun to mimic the aesthetic and branding of the retail giant’s products too closely – and without proper attribution.

The crux of the conflict lies in the use of the name “Columbia” on clothing items. Columbia Sportswear argues that the university is now selling apparel – particularly in a shade of blue closely associated with the company – that lacks any distinct university identifiers. According to the Post, the agreement between the two parties was supposed to prevent this exact situation.

Under the terms of that 2023 agreement, Columbia University was allowed to use the name “Columbia” on merchandise so long as it was accompanied by unmistakable institutional markers: the school’s insignia or mascot, the full phrase “Columbia University,” the founding year (1754), or the name of an academic department.

However, Columbia Sportswear claims that the university has strayed from those guidelines. In the lawsuit, the company presented images of garments sold through Columbia University’s official online store that display only the word “Columbia,” without any university branding. Many of these items, the suit alleges, use a bright blue hue that consumers associate with Columbia Sportswear.

The Post noted that the suit warns of “irreparable harm” to Columbia Sportswear’s brand, claiming that the university’s actions are likely to cause confusion among consumers and erode the company’s reputation for quality.

The lawsuit is particularly notable in light of Columbia University’s recent financial and reputational troubles. Just last week, the university agreed to a $220 million settlement with the federal government to restore lost research funding. That deal came after the Trump administration suspended federal grants amid concerns about antisemitism on campus, the Post reported. Under the terms of the settlement, Columbia will pay $200 million over the next three years.

In its court filing, Columbia Sportswear is asking for a full stop to sales of the allegedly infringing merchandise, a recall of items already sold, and the donation of unsold goods to charity. The company is also seeking damages – specifically, triple the amount of actual financial harm determined by a jury.

While both institutions are fixtures in their respective spheres – Columbia Sportswear in the world of outdoor apparel and Columbia University in academia – their shared name has suddenly become a battleground. As of now, neither party has issued public statements in response to the lawsuit, the New York Post reported.