Coveroo this week is "releasing an online platform called CrowdX," which "lets fans create products using official logos, yet with built-in restrictions that keep them from copyright infringement," according to Benny Evangelista of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The S.F.-based company, which sells custom cellphone and laptop covers, "has an exclusive deal" with MLB and licensing agreements with the NBA, NHL, MLS, CFL and NCAA. Depending on the settings for individual licensing agreements, fans can "create their own designs, including moving and resizing logos." The software will "automatically block any design that doesn’t meet each league or team’s licensing parameters, including color schemes and logo placement." Some teams want "only their own exact logo colors used," and each league wants its logo "placed in different locations, some directly underneath the team logo, others more toward the bottom of the design." No team "will approve profanity." The platform "lets fans, professional designers and even individual players create their own merchandise, then set up online stores to promote and sell wares." The sellers "get a commission based on the volume of products sold and other factors." The platform also "calculates the cut that teams, leagues and Coveroo receive" (SFGATE.com, 2/14).
