"Bennett College sued its alumnae association for trademark infringement, reported. The historically Black women's college seeks to stop the association from using its name, logo and other branding and is calling for significant punitive monetary damages, including at least "all profits realized" by the association."
"Relations between the college and the Bennett College National Alumnae Association soured in 2022 after an investigation found that the college's director of alumnae affairs embezzled more than $185,000 from the institution and the association. Unlike the college, the association didn't press charges to get the funds back or cooperate with the investigation, according to the complaint."
"Bennett decided to cut ties with the association and demanded it cease using the college's trademarks, but the association has continued to do so to fundraise and advertise events, according to the complaint. Later attempts to reaffiliate the association with the college, within certain guardrails, ultimately failed."
"The college now claims the association's events compete with its own and confuse donors. Bennett also needs to prove to its current accreditor, the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, that it has "adequate oversight of affiliated corporate entities and auxiliary services" and "complete control over all its financial resources," according to the complaint."
Bennett College sued the Bennett College National Alumnae Association for trademark infringement, seeking to stop the association from using the college’s name, logo, and other branding. The college also sought significant punitive monetary damages, including at least all profits realized by the association. Relations soured in 2022 after an investigation found the college’s director of alumnae affairs embezzled more than $185,000 from the institution and the association. The complaint says the association did not press charges to recover funds or cooperate with the investigation. Bennett says the association’s weak financial controls created unacceptable risks. Bennett cut ties and demanded the association stop using the trademarks, but the association continued using them for fundraising and event advertising. Bennett also claims association events compete with and confuse donors, and that it must show its accreditor it has adequate oversight and complete control over affiliated entities and financial resources.
#trademark-infringement #alumni-association #branding-and-logos #accreditation-oversight #financial-misconduct
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