Columbia Sportswear files a lawsuit against Columbia University, claiming that their merchandise is too alike and creates confusion.

Columbia Sportswear Sues Columbia University Over Trademark Issues

For a long time now, the clothing brands associated with Columbia Sportswear and Columbia University have existed side by side without much friction. But things have recently taken a turn. The outdoor retailer based in Portland has filed a lawsuit against the university in New York, accusing it of trademark infringement and breaching a contract.

The university, for its part, argues that its apparel is sold through more than 150 brand stores and over 800 retailers, which includes online platforms. They believe this could lead to confusion among consumers regarding the two brands.

In a suit submitted to the U.S. District Court for Oregon on July 23, Columbia Sportswear claims the university has violated an agreement established with a political party on June 13, 2023. This agreement specified how the term “Columbia” could be used in university merchandise.

The contract allowed the university to utilize “Columbia,” but it had to be accompanied by certain identifiers, such as a school emblem, the term “university,” or even the founding year of the institution, which is 1754.

Columbia Sportswear alleges that the university has strayed from the agreement, particularly noting that while some clothing is available at Columbia University’s online store, others have surfaced without the specified logo. Many of these items feature a distinctive bright blue color that Columbia Sportswear has famously used, which they argue is “confusingly similar.”

Alongside the lawsuit, Columbia Sportswear has included images of Columbia University-branded apparel, emphasizing that the misuse of the name could lead to significant brand damage and misunderstandings about the quality of their products.

This legal action arises at a critical time for Columbia University, which faces potential losses amounting to billions in government funding. Recently, the university signed a deal with the Trump administration, committing over $220 million to recover federal research funds that had been cut while addressing allegations of anti-Semitism on campus.

In accordance with this agreement, Ivy League institutions are expected to pay a total of $200 million over the next three years, as reported by the university.

Columbia Sportswear is seeking to stop any further sales of the apparel in question, recall items that don’t comply with the contract, and donate remaining stock to charity. They are also pursuing three times the actual damages as determined by the court.