Federal marshals were in town Saturday during the WVU -Notre Dame game to monitor vendors selling unlicensed merchandise bearing WVUs registered trademarks. They will continue to make periodic visits to campus and will seize unlicensed merchandise if the situation arises.

Chief of Staff David Satterfield, who oversees WVUs Trademark Licensing Program, said while merchandise was not seized over the weekend, some vendors who may be in violation were put on notice.

“Part of our responsibility as a trademark licensing office is to monitor the marketplace and deal with violators,”Satterfield commented.”We not only have a legal obligation to protect the WVU trademarks from unlicensed vendors, we have a moral obligation to our legitimate licensees who produce approved WVU merchandise and pay royalties, as well as to the local retailers who, in good faith, buy and sell this merchandise.

“Inferior merchandise, which is often the case with unlicensed items, is unfair to customers and fans and damages the image of the University.”

In addition to the substandard quality issue, the practice of illegally selling collegiate merchandise has a negative impact on University revenues. WVU derives royalties from the use of its marks, and those funds are earmarked for student academic scholarships and to support the trademark licensing program.