The Univ. of Texas "has backed away from horning in on the 'Havoc' brand that is synonymous" with VCU basketball, according to a front-page piece by Tim Pearrell of the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH. UT "abandoned its applications to federally register variations of Havoc -- 'HORNS HAVOC' and 'HOUSE OF HAVOC' -- in filings" with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on April 29. VCU VP/University Relations Pamela Lepley said the school's legal counsel "has been working with her counterpart at UT for a couple of weeks." Lepley: "I think that we said from the outset that it was pretty clear that we owned the mark. So with discussions with Texas, they apparently agreed." Pearrell notes under former VCU men's basketball coach Shaka Smart, who is now with UT, "'Havoc' became a national brand." It has been "central to VCU athletics marketing, with T-shirts, billboards and a huge banner in the student section that proclaims 'Havoc Lives Here.'" VCU "had registered 'Havoc' as a trademark with the State Corporation Commission, but it was not registered federally" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 5/5). In Austin, Brian Davis notes although UT officials "abandoned the request," they could "still submit another request down the road." UT is "still pursuing a trademark request for the phrase 'Strong and Smart' for marketing purposes," referring to Smart and football coach Charlie Strong (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5/5).
