Sports logos controversy

When sports fans think of their favorite sports team–whether it be at the professional, collegiate or high school level, one of the first images that pops in their head is the team logo.

The raven with the Baltimore “B” for the Baltimore Ravens, the “D” with the devil for the Duke Blue Devils. The Gator for the Florida Gators.

I know that even in grade school I would sketch that interlocking N.C. for the University of North Carolina TarHeels on my binder.

So why are these logos such a big deal?

Recently, the University of Florida cracked down on two Florida high schools that have been using the UF gator symbol; at Palm Beach Gardens’ campus the Gator was depicted on the gym floor, team uniforms and other school property. The other school, Glades Day, received the same message: remove the Gators logo from your campus.

Collegiate Licensing Company, an Atlanta-based group that offers licensing protection services to more than 200  schools, recently asked a number of high schools to stop using college trademarks on team uniforms and school property that are trademarked to universities.

Closer to home, Westminster High School in previous years also was accused of stealing their Owl mascot picture from the Temple Owl.

What other schools out there have derived their logo and mascot based off of a big university? Why is this a big deal–should these colleges go after high schools, or are they making a fuss for no reason.

With so much going on with bowl games, recruiting and dealing with national recognition, should colleges go after small high schools using their teams logos and mascots?

What are your takes? is stealing a trademark that evokes emotion to fans wrong, or is this no big deal and the colleges should let it all go?

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Tags: collegiate licensing company, Florida Gators, Florida high schools using gator symbol, Gator logo, Glades Day High School, Palm Beach Garden's, Temple Owls, Temple University, Univeristy of Florida, westminster high school, Westminster Owls