School Board Engages Law Firm to Fight Logo Use

You may have seen the Hatboro-Horsham School District logo on T-shirts and hats in stores and online. 

The merchandise–and its school Hatboro-Horsham branding–is being sold without permission from the district, according to Superintendent Curtis Griffin. As such, Hatboro-Horsham is not receiving any money from the sale of these goods, Griffin said.

With help from the law firm of Condo Roccia, LLP, Griffin said the district hopes to stop the sale of its brand without consent. The school board recently approved an "engagement letter" with the firm to provide representation regarding copyright issues. 

The firm would work "project by project" at a rate of $200 to $400 an hour, according to Griffin. The goal, he said, is to not only stop the illegal use of the district's logo, but to also encourage sponsorships.

With the logo being used now for free, Griffin asked rhetorically, "Why would you sponsor?"

In August, the district approved a sponsorship and advertising policy, which establishes the general guidelines that businesses would need to adhere to when paying for advertising on district property, the district’s Web site, or in printed materials. The policy also lays the ground rules for sponsorships, which are defined in the policy as “a payment of money or other economic benefit to a school or to the District in exchange for recognition.”

In March the school board authorized hiring consultant Advantage 3 to focus advertising/sponsorship efforts solely on Hatboro-Horsham High School, the stadium and its grounds; and Minnesota-based company School Media to zero in on Simmons Elementary School. 

Since then, Griffin said, "we're talking with people" about potential advertising and sponsorship opportunities, in particular for the district's calendar and newsletter.

"Our print calendar is very valuable," he said.