Next fall, it may be harder to purchase bootleg "Top 10 Reasons to Hate State" or "Top 10 Reasons Why Duke Sucks" t-shirts.
| Profit |
Legislation is being introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives to quell illegal use of licensed trademarks, like the University's famous block 'M' logo.
"This will effect students in that they won't be subjected to rip-offs by out-of-staters selling unofficial U of M merchandise," said Michigan House Rep. Kirk Profit (D-Ypsilanti), who is the spearheading the drive.
Profit also said the legislation could keep ever-climbing tuition costs from skyrocketing.
"U of M loses a lot of revenue when their logo is used without permission," Profit said. "They must raise tuition to cover (the loss). The ultimate loser is the student."
The two proposed bills would enforce stricter penalties for offenders and rewrite laws to make enforcement easier, said James Kosteva, the University's director of community relations. Kosteva said the current law, written in the 1920s, is too ambiguous to be effective.
"It will provide a cleaner definition for law enforcement agencies," Kosteva said.
Kosteva said that in order to be "legitimate," University paraphernalia must be liscensed by the College Licensing Corporation. Most of the t-shirts sold outside Michigan Stadium and by street vendors on South University Avenue are illegal because the vendors have not gained proper licenses.
The two bills would also protect trademarks of other state professional sports teams, colleges or corporations selling merchandise in Michigan.
"This legislation will benefit any registered trademark from U of M to the Pistons," said Kosteva. "It will also assist stores undercut by fly-by-night operations that sell illegal shirts."
One local merchant, however, is not sold on the fact that counterfeiting is such a serious offense.
"I know (bootlegging) has been a problem in the past," said Dan Switzer, manager of Steve and Barry's Sportswear on State Street. "But not so big a problem so as to need an immediate solution."
LSA senior Jennifer Redd said the problem is not urgent and does not cause problems for merchants.
"I never saw it as a problem," Redd said. "They don't sell shirts like (the bootleg versions) in bookstores, so it's not like they're competing."
Profit said the new laws should be in place just in time for the kickoff of next year's football season.
"We'll pass it in the House," Profit said. "It has unanimous support of the committee."
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