We haven't made it through two-thirds of 2025 yet, but for many it feels like a full year's worth of headaches and hassles have been stuffed into the past seven-plus months. Perhaps some comfort can be derived from knowing that, however bad it might be on a personal level, at least it's not like being Columbia University.
In addition to blinking in a high-profile stand-off with the Trump administration and agreeing to pay $9 million in a class-action suit to its students over accusations of using flawed data to inflate the school's ranking, Columbia once again finds itself on the wrong side of a lawsuit. Columbia Sportswear, which has no affiliation with the school, filed suit against the university for multiple counts that include trademark infringement, breach of contract, and breach of duty on July 23, 2025.
Likely still reeling from what the first half of 2025 served up, Columbia University must now face what appears to be the fallout from a self-inflicted wound. While Columbia Sportswear is claiming trademark infringement after the two had come to an agreement in 2023, it's up to the court to decide if an agreement made in a letter carries the same weight as a more formal contract.
There's also the matter that Columbia University has been around a little longer than Columbia Sportswear — 184 years longer, to be exact. Let the battle for Columbia and the same shade of blue begin.
Public Image (Un)Limited
Founded in 1754 in New York City, Columbia University is one of eight schools that make up the prestigious Ivy League. With a renowned business school, law school, and college of physicians and surgeons, it boasts one of the lowest admission rates in the nation. Its alumni include Alexander Hamilton, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, science fiction/fantasy authors Isaac Asimov and Ursula Le Guin, and former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Teddy Roosevelt.
While perhaps not as hallowed an institution as the school, Columbia Sportswear was founded in 1938 by Gert Boyle and has become a mainstay in the sporting apparel industry. Known for clothing designed to withstand the elements, Columbia Sportswear has also straddled the line of sports fashion. Their logo, set in a distinctive baby blue, is a crucial part of the company's identity.
At least, that's what they allege in the lawsuit. In 2023, Columbia University filed a trademark application to use "COLUMBIA" to represent the school on apparel to be sold in the U.S. and 48 other nations. The lawsuit claims this would cause confusion between the sportswear company and the school and injury to Columbia Sportswear's business.
Rather than immediately sue, the two Columbias appeared to come to an agreement in a letter dated June 13, 2023. Columbia University would be permitted to use "COLUMBIA" on their apparel as long as the items also contained a signifier like "University" or one of four approved images that ranged from the school's lion mascot to its crest. Problem solved, right?
According to the lawsuit, not quite. By September 2024, Columbia Sportswear had found numerous violations of the agreement. These included apparel bearing only "COLUMBIA" and items bearing a competitor's logo while using a color extremely close to the blue used by Columbia Sportswear.
The clothing company allegedly reached out to see if the issue could be settled amicably, but the violations continued. Feeling they had no other option, Columbia filed suit against Columbia.
Giving It the Old College Try
As might be expected, Columbia Sportswear is seeking the court to force Columbia to abide by the agreement letter and add indicators to its apparel. While also seeking damages and the profits made from the infringed products, they've also asked that, instead of being destroyed, the infringing inventory be donated to charity.
It's possible that the clothing company's slight degree of largess is based on a keen awareness that Columbia University predates them by almost two centuries, or that an agreement in a letter isn't as highly regarded as a proper legal contract. Still, it wouldn't take much for Columbia University to resume compliance with the agreement. Perhaps the university heads should walk over to the law school and get some advice.
Related Resources
- Know the Difference Between Trademarks, Copyrights, and Patents (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Enforcing Trademark Rights (FindLaw's Intellectual Property Law)
- Mahmoud Khalil's Deportation Saga Continues (FindLaw's Courtside)
