Station T-Shirts

[wfd1045]

One of the stations in my department that is first due to the local university is looking at making station t-shirts. They want to use the likeness of the university mascot but are meeting with a little resistance. I'd like to know of any departments that have gone through this and what they had to overcome and possibly what they came up with to not get in any copyright problems. Thanks.

[KenNFD1219]

It is more of a trademark issue than copyright. If they do not want you to use the school mascot, ask another university, especially one they have a rivalry with, if you can use theirs.

Seriously, if they do not give permission, you are pretty much out of luck. The school 'may' ignore it if you go ahead and use the image. On the other hand, your department could end up on the receiving end of lawsuit. Have you explored licensing the image? This is typically how trademarks, like NFL logos, end up on everything from bed sheets to coffee mugs.

[DonSmithnotTMD]

It is more of a trademark issue than copyright. If they do not want you to use the school mascot, ask another university, especially one they have a rivalry with, if you can use theirs.

I like this -- may result in many positive responses

[FFFRED]

One of the stations in my department that is first due to the local university is looking at making station t-shirts. They want to use the likeness of the university mascot but are meeting with a little resistance. I'd like to know of any departments that have gone through this and what they had to overcome and possibly what they came up with to not get in any copyright problems. Thanks.

I made shirts in my former dept with the local university's mascot. I met with one of the top deans or administrators and they were accepting of it as it was very tastefull. After that all one needs to do is find the local screen printer that is licenced to sell products with the university logos and the cost of licensing should be included in the cost of the shirts...it was minimal for me...not much money at all.

FTM-PTB

[oj3205]

I had to go thru this with our station shirts. We wanted to put the Mall of America logo on it because we are first due there. After about 2-3 months of trying to find the right person to talk to, we finally got the ok to put it on the shirts and with the name Eastside Mallers. They questioned the name but after explaining to them that we are the most Eastern station in the city and we spelled Mallers the way we did to signify that we are first due to the MOA. Also, offer them a shirt or two. We did that and they were more receptive to it.

[FTMPTB15]

Most all of CFD's stations have their 'own' Station shirts. I think it is a great idea to have a Station shirt, as well as a uniform Department shirt. It builds camaraderie between stations. None of the Station shirts are vulgar, they also don't attempt to rip on other stations. Afterall, everyone works together... I think shirts like, "Balls deep in your box" or stuff like.. "Beating you into your first-due.. again.." are in poor taste. (THAT'S JUST MY OPINION!) All of the Station shirts either relate to the area the station serves, the part of town they're in, OR the type of apparatus housed at the station (e.g. - Rescue, Haz-Mat, etc.).
Station 35 is the only one that has something related to a University on it. Since it is first-due to UNC-Charlotte, it simply has "UNCC 49ers" on the Maltese Cross. Not sure what type of permission they had to get from the University to use their name, but the colors are also representative on UNCC's colors... green.


Here are some other examples:
Station 15 housing Engine 15, located off of Shamrock Dr. (Hence the name "Shamrock Express")


Station 18 housing Engine and Ladder 18. On the west side of town.. "The Wild Wild West"


Station 4 housing Engine and Ladder 4. First due to Bank of America stadium.. home of THE Carolina Panthers! "Protectors of the Lair" (on a side note, not sure what approval they had to get to use the Panther mascot)


Station 16 housing Engine and Ladder 16. Located in the 'golden' part of town - South Park. "South Park High Rollers" (probably one of the best shirts)



All t-shirt designs have to be approved by Admin before-hand. They are pretty accepting of the designs.. most people know what is considered "acceptable."

P.S.- most all station shirts are sold to the public.

[ccfdblehman]

I go to EKU in Richmond, KY and some of the engines have our mascot on the side. Not sure how they went about it though.