Columbia Sportswear suing Columbia University (while the latter is under attack by the federal government, not a good look). Columbia University was named in 1784, blue assigned the official color in the early 1800s. The clothing company was founded in the 1930s. They’re suing the school for using bright blue and the classic college letterblock style because they think they own the word Columbia and certain shades of blue. If anything, they owe Columbia for the associated prestige and mimicry.
Columbia Sportswear sees double, sues Columbia University in trademark spat
The retailer is calling on the Ivy League institution to stop selling merchandise that too closely resembles its branded products.
opb.org