Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: logo's

Sports teams' names and logos would be their registered trademarks 99% of the time. As such, just as with "Ford Motor Company" or "Donna Karan," you can't use the name for profit without a license agreement with the trademark owner.

If the owner would grant you a license at all, it would doubtless require you to keep sales records and pay a royalty, impose quality standards, and other requirements.

Many major sports also require approval of the league as well, which I guess is part of a league-wide program to assure the quality, authenticity and uniformity of products that affect the league and its teams.

Sale of team-logo paraphernalia is a big income source for sports teams, and you will hear from their lawyers in a hurry if you violate their trademark rights.

Re: logo's

Generally, sports franchises have obtained intellectual property rights in connection with their logos, and consequently, use of the logo would require a license from the holder of such right. For your particular situation, however, you should consult an attorney to determine whether you may use the logo. -- Linda