Columbia Sportswear sues Columbia University over merch in latest legal battle for Ivy

Core Viewpoint - Columbia Sportswear has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University for alleged trademark infringement and breach of contract, claiming that the university's merchandise closely resembles its own products [1][4]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed on July 23 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, alleging that the university intentionally violated an agreement signed on June 13, 2023 [4][5]. - The agreement allowed the university to use the name "Columbia" on its merchandise only if it included recognizable school insignia, the word "university," or other specified elements [5]. - Columbia Sportswear claims that the university has breached this agreement by selling garments without any school logos, which are similar in color to Columbia Sportswear's products [6][8]. Group 2: Impact and Claims - The lawsuit argues that the university's actions are causing irreparable harm to Columbia Sportswear's brand and goodwill associated with its registered trademark [8]. - Columbia Sportswear is seeking to halt sales of the infringing clothing, recall products already sold, and donate remaining merchandise to charity [10]. - The company is also pursuing three times the actual damages determined by a jury [10]. Group 3: Contextual Background - The lawsuit coincides with Columbia University facing potential loss of billions in government support, having recently reached a $220 million settlement with the Trump administration [9].