Michigan State uses a special program to find unauthorized merch being promoted on social mediaTEEPUBLIC
Michigan State Dir of Licensing Samantha Stevens said that the school has "seen plenty of unlicensed Spartan merchandise over the years," but the unauthorized use of G Cassius Winston's likeness ahead of the NCAA Final Four is "part of a new trend," according to RJ Wolcott of the LANSING STATE JOURNAL. The Sports Legends Facebook page is currently displaying a T-shirt on sale for $25.99, depicting Winston "holding up a T-shirt that says 'Spartans.'" The shirt has "his name and the names of seven teammates along with signatures." It is "not MSU authorized merchandise and not a photo Winston ever posed for." Stevens said the university asked its licensing agency to "shut down the sale of the T-shirt." A "cease and desist letter has been sent" (LANSING STATE JOURNAL, 4/3).
ARCH RIVAL? In Michigan, Phil Friend notes the Bank of Ann Arbor has "erected one billboard in Lansing and eight more in Ann Arbor congratulating and cheering on the Spartans' Final Four appearance." The billboard in Lansing is digital and allows for six slogans the bank chose to "rotate throughout the week." The slogans include "This week, we bleed green," "This week, Ann Arbor's in the Izzone" and "1979. 2000. 2019?" Bank of Ann Arbor President & CEO Tim Marshall said there "wasn't any available billboard space in East Lansing when they inquired" earlier this week. Five vinyl boards will be "going up in Ann Arbor on Friday, on top of the three digital ones already live" (LANSINGSTATEJOURNAL.com, 4/4).
