UA, Guitar Maker Set for Court

The great guitar debate we told you about in our June 4 Whispers between the University of Arkansas and Dean Guitars over the use of the word “Razorback” has been set for a non-jury trial in the U.S. Western District of Arkansas on Jan. 28.
Dean Guitars has a line of guitars with the word “Razorback” in the name. The UA sued Dean’s parent companies for trademark infringement on Feb. 5 and was the target of a counter-suit on April 6.
The counter-suit alleges the UA is infringing on the company’s business and points out that of the hundreds of trademark uses the UA has filed for the use of the word Razorback, it has never filed for a trademark use on a guitar.
Dean Guitars contends it chose the word “Razorback” in good faith and that the logo design and different consumer bases make the UA’s claims of damage and customer confusion irrelevant.
Dean Guitars is requesting an injunction to prevent the UA from ever licensing the word “Razorback” on a guitar. The UA has previously given permission for Gibson (a Dean competitor) to produce a Les Paul model guitar bearing the Razorback logo as part of a national program approved by the Collegiate Licensing Company.
A Google image search of “Razorback logos” revealed a few other products using the Razorback name, including a line of sunglasses by Robert Radi, a Suzuki Jet Ski decal style, a Pro Line remote-controlled jeep, a Web site called razorbackrecords.com and a line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle boots.
No word yet on when the UA will be suing any of these companies.