Just moments ago, a terrible fire that destroyed important portions of the renowned Sanford Stadium erupted at the University of Georgia’s athletic facilities. On the site, emergency personnel are fighting the flames that have quickly spread throughout the stadium complex.
Locals and Georgia Bulldogs supporters are alarmed by the fire, which was first reported soon after it started and has sent heavy smoke plumes soaring over the Athens skyline. Details on the source of the fire and possible injuries are still unknown, but authorities are acting quickly to guarantee everyone’s safety in the area.
NEXT: UGA requests that a rubbish removal company in Athens cease utilizing its purported branding.
With more than 92,000 seats, Sanford Stadium is a legendary location for Georgia Bulldogs football and a major component of UGA’s athletic heritage. The Georgia crowd is known for their fervent support, and the fire threatens not just the building’s physical integrity but also their spirit.
Although university representatives have not yet issued a formal statement, further information is anticipated as events unfold. Fans and alumni have already taken to social media to voice their concern and offer support in response to this tragic incident, which has garnered national notice.
Details: UGA requests that a rubbish removal company
We chose the moniker TopDawg Junk Removal because, according to Warkentine, they wanted to “create a business that kind of gets behind the camaraderie of the Georgia Bulldogs.”
Warkentine used a red, black, and white color scheme together with the NCAA Georgia Bulldog font to develop his company branding. Then, while clearing out trash for a woman who had been evicted and was unable to take him with her, he adopted a dog.
“He just became our company mascot shortly after I took him home,” Warkentine remarked. Bullet, an American Staffordshire Terrier, is now depicted in a circle on his company’s logo.
We chose the moniker TopDawg Junk Removal because, according to Warkentine, they wanted to “create a business that kind of gets behind the camaraderie of the Georgia Bulldogs.”
Warkentine used a red, black, and white color scheme together with the NCAA Georgia Bulldog font to develop his company branding. Then, while clearing out trash for a woman who had been evicted and was unable to take him with her, he adopted a dog.
“He just became our company mascot shortly after I took him home,” Warkentine remarked. Bullet, an American Staffordshire Terrier, is now depicted in a circle on his company’s logo.
In October, Warkentine reported receiving an email from a lawyer representing Fanatics Licensing Management (FLM) on behalf of the University of Georgia’s intellectual property rights.
The email stated, “We have identified that you are using the University’s intellectual property, including but not limited to the federally registered DAWGS word mark, the University’s red/black color scheme, and the Bulldog Bold font, in connection with the marketing, advertising, and/or promotion of your business, without proper authorization from FLM or the University.”
“This feels so unfair,” Warkentine commented.
Athens is home to numerous businesses that seemingly capitalize on the university’s intellectual property, from tire shops to smoothie cafes and puppy daycare centers. Warkentine’s warehouse is located right next to Bulldog Scooters at Top Dog Storage.
“It used to be Top Dog Automotive before it became Top Dog Storage,” Warkentine noted.
Atlanta News First Investigates also uncovered two businesses with identical names to Warkentine’s. While neither uses the university’s font, one of the establishments prominently displays images of Uga, the Georgia Bulldogs mascot, throughout its lobby.
There are dozens of companies in Athens that seem to leverage the university’s intellectual property, ranging from tire stores to bulldog smoothie shops to puppy daycare centers. Directly next to Bulldog Scooters at Top Dog Storage is Warkentine’s warehouse.
“It was Top Dog Automotive before it was Top Dog Storage,” Warkentine stated.
Additionally, two companies with the exact same spelling as Warkentine’s were discovered by Atlanta News First Investigates. Although they don’t use the university’s typeface, one of the eateries features pictures of Uga, the Georgia Bulldog, all over the lobby.
There are 633 registered business licenses in Georgia when searching for active licenses using the word “dawg.” A Google search for “dawg”-related businesses in Athens yields almost two dozen results, including a “Dawg” boarding company located next to a “Dawgs” smoke shop.
Additionally, the university holds the trademark for Bulldog Movers, an Atlanta moving company that UGA filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against in 2006. Two years later, UGA voluntarily dropped the complaint.
Bulldog Movers and the university were contacted by Atlanta News First Investigates regarding this lawsuit and trademark, but they did not respond.
Top Dog Moving is another Alpharetta moving company with a Doberman logo. The business was formerly known as “Top Dawg Moving” and had a white Bulldog logo, according to Google review images from three years ago.
Top Dawg Moving was also contacted by Atlanta News First Investigates, but they did not hear back.
Any “reproduction, counterfeit, copy, or colorable imitation” that is used to sell a registered mark is forbidden by federal law “to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive.”
Georgia Code 23-2-55 declares that it is a fraud to use “similar trademarks, names, or devices, with the intention of deceiving and misleading the public.”
According to Warkentine, his clients don’t believe they have any connection to the university. He declared, “We’re not sporting any Georgia symbols.” “The university is not the same as us. Not a single person believes that we work for or with the University of Georgia.
Although Warkentine thinks he has a compelling case to make in court, he cannot afford the battle because he is a small business. “I can’t afford the resources to go to court, which will cost between $20,000 and $60,000,” he stated.
Atlanta News First Investigates repeatedly contacted the director of athletics, the lawyer for Fanatics Licensing Management, and UGA media relations, but never received a response.
According to the university’s website, anyone wishing to use its trademarks must first obtain permission from the Office of Trademarks and Licensing. When asked how many and which businesses have been granted authorization, UGA did not reply.
As stated by the online UGA Policy Library:
Words, phrases, symbols, designs, sounds, smells, colors, product configurations, groups of letters or numbers, or any combination of these elements used by an organization to identify its goods and services and set them apart from goods and services produced, marketed, or supplied by others are known as trademarks (or marks). As part of its commitment to conducting business in an ethical and socially responsible manner, the University of Georgia aims to link its trademarks to dependable items of the highest caliber.
“All new or altered trademarks introduced or approved for use by the University of Georgia will fall under the policies and guidelines of the trademark licensing program, along with the marks explicitly outlined in this policy.” Additionally, any variations of the University’s trademarks that could cause consumers to incorrectly assume the product is associated with, endorsed by, or authorized by the University will also be governed by this licensing program.
