Less Than Classy; OU, OSU Items Seized
In what's being described as a "less than classy move," employees of the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University confiscated materials from vendors at last weekend's "Affair Of The Heart" crafts show in Oklahoma City and now face possible larcency charges.
Vendors at the show said the OU and OSU representatives, identified as Suzanne Staley, OU director of brand development, and Judy Barnard, director of trademarks and licensing at OSU, were accompanied by an off-duty police office as they worked the show, confiscating items. At least 15 vendors have filed complaints against the women.
The women face larceny of merchandise complaints following their actions at the show, one of the country's largest arts and crafts shows. They also may face civil lawsuits by those seeking damages due to lost or reduced merchandise sales.
The vendors said the women produced business cards with their names and associations with their respective universities' licensing departments and told vendors they were violating state law by selling "an item that said 'OU Sooners' on it or an item that said 'OSU' in the school colors.. They reportedly cited a counterfeiting statute.
An Oklahoma City Police Department spokesman said police have been told by the district attorney that the women can't seize property the way they did it.
"Once those cases get assigned to the white-collar crime division, we're going to see if the activity of these two women rises to the level to be able to file a criminal charge," the officer said. He added that no one has the right to seize property unless one of three conditions are met: a court order from a judge, an injunction that gives someone the right to seize property or if it's pursuant to an arrest and the seized property is evidence for a crime.
He said at least three vendors also were left with a voluntary surrender of property form and were "coerced" to sign it. "One vendor who was presented with this voluntary release of property form said, 'No, I'm not signing that. I refuse to sign it,' and the person just filled it out for her and signed her name," he said.
Connie Harris, one of the craft show's founders, said many vendors are upset by the situation and had to close down their booths."My husband was mentioning a lot of the things were merchandise that they bought that was licensed and altered -- like Hancock's carries OU and OSU licensed fabric. They just bought that and made a pillow. That's legal, and they confiscated stuff like that," Harris said.
"These two ladies were very rude to my other partner and myself," Harris said. "We said we wanted some other kind of identification besides business cards. They wouldn't show us anything."
Harris said some vendors lost $3,500 to $4,500 worth of merchandise.
OU associate athletics director Kenny Mossman issued a statement by e-mail saying: "We encourage those who wish to use the OU trademarks to work through our long established process for licensure. We do this to ensure that vendors, especially those who sell in mass quantities, are following trademark guidelines."We have no desire to limit opportunity, but we have the right and responsibility to protect the marks and oversee appropriate use."
Vendors at the show said the OU and OSU representatives, identified as Suzanne Staley, OU director of brand development, and Judy Barnard, director of trademarks and licensing at OSU, were accompanied by an off-duty police office as they worked the show, confiscating items. At least 15 vendors have filed complaints against the women.
The women face larceny of merchandise complaints following their actions at the show, one of the country's largest arts and crafts shows. They also may face civil lawsuits by those seeking damages due to lost or reduced merchandise sales.
The vendors said the women produced business cards with their names and associations with their respective universities' licensing departments and told vendors they were violating state law by selling "an item that said 'OU Sooners' on it or an item that said 'OSU' in the school colors.. They reportedly cited a counterfeiting statute.
An Oklahoma City Police Department spokesman said police have been told by the district attorney that the women can't seize property the way they did it.
"Once those cases get assigned to the white-collar crime division, we're going to see if the activity of these two women rises to the level to be able to file a criminal charge," the officer said. He added that no one has the right to seize property unless one of three conditions are met: a court order from a judge, an injunction that gives someone the right to seize property or if it's pursuant to an arrest and the seized property is evidence for a crime.
He said at least three vendors also were left with a voluntary surrender of property form and were "coerced" to sign it. "One vendor who was presented with this voluntary release of property form said, 'No, I'm not signing that. I refuse to sign it,' and the person just filled it out for her and signed her name," he said.
Connie Harris, one of the craft show's founders, said many vendors are upset by the situation and had to close down their booths."My husband was mentioning a lot of the things were merchandise that they bought that was licensed and altered -- like Hancock's carries OU and OSU licensed fabric. They just bought that and made a pillow. That's legal, and they confiscated stuff like that," Harris said.
"These two ladies were very rude to my other partner and myself," Harris said. "We said we wanted some other kind of identification besides business cards. They wouldn't show us anything."
Harris said some vendors lost $3,500 to $4,500 worth of merchandise.
OU associate athletics director Kenny Mossman issued a statement by e-mail saying: "We encourage those who wish to use the OU trademarks to work through our long established process for licensure. We do this to ensure that vendors, especially those who sell in mass quantities, are following trademark guidelines."We have no desire to limit opportunity, but we have the right and responsibility to protect the marks and oversee appropriate use."
Labels: Affair Of The Heart, Nameless OU Jerseys, OSU
posted by Mike McCarville @ 10:32 AM
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