A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday by an Illinois attorney on behalf of the University of Arkansas board of trustees alleges the sale of counterfeit Razorbacks merchandise online.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, states that unnamed defendants -- described as residing in China or "other foreign jurisdictions" -- operate "without any authorization or license."
The lawsuit seeks to stop the defendants from using "Razorbacks" trademarks and asks that the court order that online "Defendant Domain Names" be transferred to the UA board or that the "Defendant Domain Names" be disabled. The lawsuit seeks payment of "all profits" from "unlawful acts herein alleged" and damages.
Keith A. Vogt is representing the UA trustees board.
UA System spokesman Nate Hinkel said in an email that "we are seeking to abate these kinds of infringements by gaining access to the funds of the defendants that are held by entities within the jurisdiction of the court, such as PayPal."
Hinkel called protecting the Razorbacks brand "essential to running a successful athletics department and in maintaining the highest-quality merchandise for our loyal fan base."
Metro on 06/27/2018