Spring Break
NORML goes up in a cloud of smoke
CAREY O'NEIL
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: News
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The University chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws plans to appeal a sanction of two years probation, claiming the group was punished too harshly.
After a hearing spanning two days, NORML was found to have violated University trademarks and failed to follow the instructions of University officials.
NORML officers contest the decision, claiming the logo in question is a satire and the intellectual property of the artist. They said NORML did everything in its power to follow officials' instructions.
The logo depicts a cartoon bulldog smoking while studying underneath the Arch.
On Feb. 11, University officials from the Center for Student Organizations contacted NORML via e-mail, asking the organization to cease distribution of T-shirts bearing the logo and to remove the logo from its Web site.
Later in the week, CSO contacted NORML officers again, saying the organization could continue selling the shirts, but were barred from printing any more.
On Feb. 16, NORML was contacted by Joshua Podvin, assistant director of student activities and organizations, who asked for all unsold T-shirts. Podvin also gave the organization a deadline for removing the logo from the Web site.
Wojciech Kaczkowski - a junior from Krakow, Poland, and president of NORML - responded to the messages, saying NORML had sold all of its shirts and was unable to alter its site because the member who ran it was out of the country.
After the deadline passed and NORML had not removed the image from its site, the organization was informed it was thought to be in violation of the University code of conduct, initiating the judicial process. NORML was offered a sanction of one year of probation so long as they admitted to the violations in question.
NORML decided not to accept the offer.
At the hearing, Kaczkowski contested the logo was not a trademark violation and the organization had done everything possible to meet officials' demands.
The University advocate claimed the logo and the organizations' inability to meet officials' deadlines were clearly in violation of University policy.
Despite their troubles with the University, NORML members continue to petition for the decriminalization of holding less than seven grams of marijuana.
Kaczkowski said NORML hopes to have enough signatures on its petition to get this proposition on the ballot for 2010.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Jane
posted 5/01/09 @ 8:42 AM EST
NORML screwed up by not showing 'good faith' in their efforts to remove the 'infringing' images. It would be nice to have a transcript of the hearings in order to find out if NORML showed that they tried all means (phone, email, IM, etc) to contact the member who apparently had sole access to their website. (Continued…)
chad
posted 5/07/09 @ 10:51 PM EST
UGA doesn't own the likeness of all white bulldogs , that's naive to claim such a thing.
dumbness
posted 5/08/09 @ 1:40 AM EST
Maybe UGA should sue all high schools and other colleges who's mascot is the bulldog...
gadawg
posted 5/08/09 @ 3:51 PM EST
The bulldog is of no concern in the University's decision. If you read closely (perhaps in the main article that was published following Judiciary's decision), there is no mention of the Bulldog. (Continued…)
A. Lumnigh
posted 5/09/09 @ 3:26 PM EST
Here we will surely have the University shoveling money down the drain in a court fight with the members of NORML, while we prepare at the same time to furlough professors and staff next year. (Continued…)
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