In a clash of status-symbol titans, Harvard's Office of Patents and Trademarks recently took on fashion designer Ralph Lauren.
Three weeks ago, legal counsel to the clothing empire received a cease-and-desist letter from the University after Harvard's trademark office discovered a line of Ralph Lauren ties bearing the Harvard Law School (HLS) crest.
The fashion designer ended up paying Harvard nearly $1,000 in back royalties on the 400 HLS ties already sold by the time of the University's complaint.
Ralph Lauren also agreed to take the remaining HLS ties off the rack.
According to Rick Calixto, Harvard's trademark program administrator, lawyers for the retailer admitted that Ralph Lauren had not sought permission to use the HLS crest.
"I basically told Ralph Lauren that if the situation were reversed, if it were Harvard who had infringed on their trademark, they'd be on our backs pretty quickly," Calixto said.
"They promised they won't do anything else with the Harvard name on it," he said.
Independent tie designer Michael LaHart alerted Harvard officials to the unauthorized usage of the HLS crest.
LaHart, who owns the sole license to reproduce Harvard logos on neckwear, saw the HLS ties on sale in Ralph Lauren's New York City flagship store.
LaHart's own line of Harvard ties is available at the Coop and select Neiman Marcus department stores.
Calixto said he estimated Ralph Lauren took in about $25,000 in retail sales revenue from the HLS ties. In collecting royalty fees, the University usually demands 7.5 percent of the wholesale price of the merchandise, Calixto said.
Lee Storn, Ralph Lauren's vice president for intellectual property rights and associate general counsel, responded promptly to the University's complaint, Calixto said.
Storn said he could not comment on the matter.
Calixto said no one at Ralph Lauren ever "explained how it happened," but he expressed confidence that no similar dispute would arise in the future.
"[The lawyers for the retailer]were very friendly," Calixto said. "It's a one-time thing, and they promised it won't happen again."
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