Texas trying to trademark ‘Havoc’ after Shaka Smart hiring

The Texas Longhorns want more than just head basketball coach Shaka Smart from the VCU Rams.

According to a report from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Texas is attempting to trademark “Havoc”for marketing and merchandising purposes. In fact, Texas has already registered a handful of slogans with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Texas has registered “Horns Havoc” and “House of Havoc.”

Smart created the “Havoc” trademark during his tenure with VCU, because of the high-intensity style of his team.

According to John Farmer, a trademark law specialist at Leading-Edge Law Group in Henrico County, the attempt by Texas to register their slogans could lead to a legal battle with VCU.

“VCU certainly would have been in a strong position if it had federally registered the mark,” he said. “With trademarks, the old mark wins in a fight.”

As far as new VCU head coach Will Wade is concerned, the Rams will continue to use the term to describe their style of play.

“If you travel anywhere in the country and you say VCU basketball, I think the word associated with that would be Havoc,” Wade said. “We’re going to continue that brand. It’s a national brand. It’s something that’s brought our program to prominence, and we’re going to continue to use it.”

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, but it looks like legal teams could soon be creating havoc in the court room.

 

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

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