The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) has "filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court against party promoters, concert promoters, nightclubs and merchandisers, claiming they are using the conference’s name without permission," according to Lyttle & Trenda of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. The suit "demands that promoters stop using the conference’s trademarked name." The CIAA also is "demanding ownership of several websites it believes to be in violation, along with triple the value of any profits derived from unauthorized use of its name." The conference "took the action less than two weeks before its annual men’s and women’s basketball tournaments begin at Time Warner Cable Arena." Its tournament "ranks among Charlotte’s biggest events, drawing tens of thousands of people to the city for a week of basketball, parties, concerts and other events." The suit "comes after many concert and party promoters already have printed brochures and set up websites, advertising their events in the Charlotte area during the tournament." Some sites "remained online Friday" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/16).
