While Ohio State fans love to know the local team as "OSU," it's a connotation with different meaning in various regions of the country. It could mean Oklahoma State on the Great Plains or Oregon State on the west coast.
For years those schools have had an agreement that allowed each to claim the acronym for promotional purposes.
But no longer! Ohio State moved in February to file a federal trademark on OSU.
From dispatch.com:
Ohio State University, which already owns a host of trademarks, filed an application in February with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, seeking to trademark “OSU,” specifically on clothing and apparel.
But another university that holds the acronym near and dear is stepping in.
Oklahoma State University filed for an extension with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, indicating it plans to file a notice of opposition to the trademark request. The office approved that request, granting Oklahoma State until the end of August to file its objection.
Spokesmen for each school swear this isn't a conflict between schools but rather an administration issue that arises from time to time with trademarks.
Only time will tell, but each side wouldn't be lawyering up if this were a simple disagreement among old friends. Millions of dollars are on the line, after all.
No word yet on if Oregon State plans to enter the fray.
