Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech - Texas Game Potential Target for Counterfeiters
October 30, 2008 | Football
Oct. 30, 2008
ATLANTA, Ga. - As the seventh-ranked Red Raiders prepare to take on the top-ranked Texas Longhorns this Saturday, the stakes go beyond that of a national championship. Texas Tech officials also will be challenged with potential counterfeiters that may try to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting fans.
University officials, working in conjunction with The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), are alerting local law enforcement to be on the lookout for persons selling unlicensed merchandise. Additionally, campus officials will be cracking down on unapproved vendors selling on campus; all vendors must be granted a permit by the University's Outdoor Events Coordinating Committee in order to sell product on campus grounds.
"We know that this is a huge game for both teams and that it will be an attractive audience for counterfeiters to target," said Paige Holland, Assistant Director of External Operations, who oversees licensing at Texas Tech. "We want our fans to enjoy the game and not get taken in by counterfeiters selling unlicensed product that may be of poor quality and not approved by the University."
Revenue from the sale of licensed products directly benefits programs at the University; therefore consumers should always look for the following characteristics to ensure the merchandise they purchase is officially licensed:
• All officially licensed merchandise should display the "Officially Licensed Collegiate Product" hologram somewhere on the product or hangtag.
• The merchandise should depict Texas Tech logos and marks in a tasteful manner, as the Universities do not approve distasteful designs.
• The tag on the garment should be intact. A torn or missing tag is evidence of a second-hand garment, one that probably would not meet the stringent quality standards in place at the University.
• All merchandise should bear the name of the manufacturer somewhere on the product, either in the form of a hangtag, a neck label, or screen-printed directly on the garment.
• All merchandise should have the appropriate trademark designations (i.e. TM, ) next to a specific name or design.
Revenues for the Texas Tech licensing program, which is managed by The Collegiate Licensing Company, an IMG company, are currently up more than 20% this fall over the same period last year, due in part to fan excitement generated by the success of this year's football team.
About The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC): CLC is a division of global sports and entertainment company IMG. Founded in 1981, CLC is the oldest and largest collegiate licensing agency in the U.S. and currently represents nearly 200 colleges, universities, bowl games, athletic conferences, The Heisman Trophy and the NCAA. The mission of CLC is to be the guiding force in collegiate trademark licensing and one of the top sports licensing firms in the country. CLC is dedicated to being a center of excellence in providing licensing services of the highest quality to its member institutions, licensees, retailers and consumers. Headquartered in Atlanta (Ga.), CLC is a full-service licensing representative, which employs a staff of more than 80 licensing professionals who provide full-service capabilities in brand protection, brand management, and brand development. For more information on CLC, visit: www.clc.com or www.imgworld.com.
