Recently, there has been a small debate within the various hobby forums if the Michigan State Highway Shield uses the Block M from the University of Michigan. And whether or not Wyoming does and if North Carolina did.
So I decided to take a closer look at all three states and found out that no it's not the University of Michigan's block M on their highway shield, nor did North Carolina use the UNC interlocking NC on their shields (from 1921 - 1960s). Wyoming does - however, that is more of an overall state symbol.
Still curious - give it a read - "Highway Shields and University Logos"
https://www.gribblenation.org/2024/01/highway-shields-and-university-logos.html
On this forum there was a post where someone thought the Arch symbol used by the University of Georgia is a University symbol and the state also uses that UGA symbol on the state flag.
The point is, it could be considered a state symbol rather than strictly a university symbol, in some cases.
Even if you consider the cowboy symbol on the Wyoming shield to be a state symbol, it is trademarked, and the trademark is held by the University of Wyoming. So you have to get the university's permission to sell anything with that symbol on it. Jake Bear asked if we could make and sell Wyoming shields, and they said no, so that's the one state highway marker we aren't allowed to sell. (Good thing it's not a very popular state.)
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 10, 2024, 08:44:31 PM
Even if you consider the cowboy symbol on the Wyoming shield to be a state symbol, it is trademarked, and the trademark is held by the University of Wyoming. So you have to get the university's permission to sell anything with that symbol on it. Jake Bear asked if we could make and sell Wyoming shields, and they said no, so that's the one state highway marker we aren't allowed to sell. (Good thing it's not a very popular state.)
Makes a decent flag, though:
(https://i.imgur.com/EYLIIyn.png)
It would, but if that was the state flag then anyone who wanted to make a state flag would need the approval of the university.
Trademarks are incredibly stupid.
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 10, 2024, 10:25:26 PM
It would, but if that was the state flag then anyone who wanted to make a state flag would need the approval of the university.
Trademarks are incredibly stupid.
Ditto if the Wisconsin state flag was changed to be a red sheet with the stylized 'W' that is used on badgers' football helmets or Georgia used their helmet logo 'G' (although the Georgia 'G' might also need licensing approval from the Green Bay packers).
Mike