PARK RIDGE, Ill. (WAND) – University of Illinois leaders and an alumnus settled a disagreement over shirts sold online.
The News-Gazette reports the university sued Ted O’Malley, who is from the Chicago area, earlier in 2018 because it claimed shirts he created violated trademarks. The shirts show a photo of Chief Illiniwek holding up his arms, which the U of I owns the copyright for, and the phrase “Make Illinois Great Again” on the back.
O’Malley applied for a “Make Illinois Great Again” trademark in March 2017. The school entered a notice of opposition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in November of that year after he made a website for the shirts.
O’Malley chose to stop selling them after the U of I filed the lawsuit in April. They still aren’t for sale even after the settlement, which was finalized on June 20.
A U of I attorney told the newspaper the settlement should “resolve this matter completely”. He says both sides have to “take certain actions” before the issue officially ends.
When the lawsuit was filed, U of I leaders promised to “vigorously defend” trademarks, while O’Malley said he was “not ready to just give into the University and their lawyers”. His GoFundMe account meant to raise funds for a legal fight had raised $1,385.
A judge in Chicago is expected to hear the agreed settlement motion next week.
