A Sea Of Red

Jacket said that he was informed from someone that no one was allowed to use Coastal logos on the CCU message board. Anyone have any clue why that would be the case? Is there any chance we'll get told that here? Just wondering.

It's a licensing thing. You have to ask permission/pay to use it I'd think. And even if they'd let you, you could forget about this site ever making any money.

That's why we use the current name of this board and not something with the school name in it. Its also why we have been careful not to use any of Proto's logos (or any of the vintage ones as well) on the site. Its a fine line that message boards walk between honoring licenses and projecting a school's ideals/attributes.

Generally speaking, a school is within its rights to ask an individual or group of individuals to cease & desist use of licensed logos. But most schools give some lattitude to alumni & students. Apparently the CCU administration is wanting to muscle up on a board where they don't always follow the party line. That's a shame. Theoretically speaking, the same thing could happen to us. That's party of the reason the moderators & I have made a point to limit certain conversations on here that aren't pertinent to the overall discussion (i.e. The Liberty Way). We want to maintian a positive standing with the school whenever possible. That doesn't mean there won't be times when we take issue with things on campus (obviously in sports that is going to be the case).

This bring up another matter, a number of you had suggested you might have ideas for a new logo and/or masthead. Keeping the legalities in mind, I'd love to see some of your work. This place needs some sprucing up.

The thing that I don't understand is they won't let people use the logos in their signatures or avatars.

hmm, I don't know if you can do that. On every messageboard I've ever been on, people have used the logos in their avatars and sigs. But then again, I doubt any school has ever cared enough to challenge it. Way to be petty Coastal and alienate the more passionate side of your fanbase. Bravo!

That's what I didn't get. There weren't any logos on the site in general, but people had them in their avatars and signatures. I think it's pretty stupid to make them take it off.

The school is within its legal rights to make such a request. Its just bad business on their part unless they feel there are capital rewards for maintaining their property rights. I agree it is lame but it is legal.

Personally, I believe Liberty sees that we are a benefit to the school and program and they are willing to work with us for the better good. Lets hope we can maintain that relationship.

Nobody here is a lawyer, but just to play devil's advocate, if I had my own webpage I could post whatever the heck logos I wanted, couldn't I? Example: http://images.google.com/images?svnum=1 ... tnG=Search
Look at all the different sites not affiliated with UVA that have their logo. Would Coastal hit me up with an email if I started a CCU fanpage on geocities?

He who owns the trademark decides who can use it.

I think they are all just playing a game of Chicken over the logo.

Yeah, I think it's pretty frickin poor that our university that we love so much, won't even let us show our school pride by using a stinking little avatar with the CCU logo on it on a message board where most all of us are alumni or diehard CCU fans.

As far as the merchandise goes, I know a couple of years ago you could find some CCU gear in the Conway Wal-Mart store and in the Conway Walgreens, but not anymore. I haven't seen any CCU stuff in those stores in a while. Of course, there are still plenty of USC, Clemson and East Carolina hats in the Conway Wal-Mart, even some Notre Dame and Michigan hats.

Doesn't that make a lot of sense when the hometown university doesn't even have any of its merchandise in the local Wally World?

I just went out to Mississippi State this past week to get ready for grad school in August and the Starkville Wal-Mart has a whole space at the front of the store chock full of MSU merchandise and apparel and there are MSU flags and signs all over the store.
I'm sure its that way in other college cities as well. I know the Bi-Lo in Clemson was (and probably still is) Clemson themed with Orange and Tiger Paws throughout the store.

Our athletic department should really get a clue and start showing more of a CCU presence around the area here. Maybe then we could generate some buzz throughout the community where people will have a sense of pride about CCU, even among those who aren't necessarily tied in with Coastal like alumni or students are.

Okay, I'm finished with my rant...

That's from a guy on the Coastal board.

hmmmmm, that issue seems strangely familiar somehow.