The Collegiate Licensing Company Cracks Down on Counterfeiters at BCS Game
CLC, BCS, and University Officials Will Protect Marks by Dispatching Marketplace Enforcement Teams in New Orleans
New Orleans, LA, (Jan. 5, 2012) –As The University of Alabama and Louisiana State University players and coaches gear up for the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship Game® on Monday, The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), a division of IMG College, is taking necessary measures to clear the New Orleans market of potential counterfeit and unlicensed merchandise. The full-scale enforcement action is an effort to protect consumers and the brands of the participating collegiate institutions.
CLC, the exclusive licensing agency for the BCS, Alabama, and LSU, will work closely with local law enforcement officials to monitor the merchandise being sold surrounding the National Championship Game. All counterfeit merchandise is subject to seizure.
With the retail market for collegiate licensed product estimated at $4.3 billion, second only to Major League Baseball, counterfeiters look to capitalize on the excitement of fans in town to cheer on their teams. On average, nearly 5,000 pieces of counterfeit collegiate merchandise, ranging from T-shirts to hats, are seized outside the host stadium of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) title game each year.
“Our goal in New Orleans will be to protect consumers, retailers, and the collegiate partners we represent from falling prey to counterfeit merchandise,” said Cory Moss, CLC’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director. “Unlicensed merchandise is usually inferior in quality because it does not go through the approval process with our schools. We want fans to go home with the highest quality memorabilia that will be a long-lasting reminder of their time at the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans.”
Tips for consumers purchasing National Championship merchandise…
· All officially licensed merchandise should display the “Officially Licensed Collegiate Products” hologram on the product or hangtag.
· The merchandise should depict BCS logos and marks in a tasteful manner, as distasteful designs are not approved by the BCS or Alabama and LSU.
· The tag on the garment should be intact. A torn or missing tag is evidence of a second-hand garment, one that probably would not meet the stringent quality standards set in place by the BCS or Alabama and LSU.
· All merchandise should bear the name of the manufacturer somewhere on the product, either in the form of a hangtag, a neck label, or screen-printed directly on the garment.
· All merchandise should have the appropriate trademark designations (i.e. TM, ) next to a specific name or design.
Trademark infringement violates state and federal laws, including criminal laws. Penalties vary depending on the extent of the violation, but can include confiscation of the product and equipment used to make it, fines, and even jail time for more serious violations. Confiscated product is eventually destroyed or donated to charitable organizations.
Royalties generated from the sale of officially licensed collegiate products go back to the respective universities to enhance various initiatives on campus.
“Many schools count on the royalties generated from the sale of licensed product to fund campus programs and scholarships,” added Moss. “It is not uncommon for schools to exceed $1 million in royalties from the sales of licensed merchandise during a BCS National Championship hot market, so it’s imperative we keep the marketplace free of counterfeit product.”
The Allstate BCS National Championship game will be played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA, on Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. (CST) and will be televised on ESPN.
About The Collegiate Licensing Company
CLC is a division of global sports and entertainment company IMG. Founded in 1981, CLC is the oldest and largest collegiate licensing agency in the U.S. and currently represents nearly 200 colleges, universities, bowl games, athletic conferences, The Heisman Trophy and the NCAA. The mission of CLC is to be the guiding force in collegiate trademark licensing and one of the top sports licensing firms in the country. CLC is dedicated to being a center of excellence in providing licensing services of the highest quality to its member institutions, licensees, retailers and consumers. Headquartered in Atlanta (Ga.), CLC is a full-service licensing representative, which employs a staff of more than 80 licensing professionals who provide full-service capabilities in brand protection, brand management, and brand development. For more information on CLC, visit: www.clc.com or www.imgworld.com.