DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake University has filed a lawsuit against Des Moines Area Community College over a recent rebrand, claiming the school's new logo and color scheme constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition.
In the lawsuit, representatives for Drake say the university has used a standalone "D" as an official symbol since at least 1902. The letter "D" appears on Drake's merchandise, website, athletic uniforms and more.
In October of 2023, DMACC introduced a new logo as part of a rebranding initiative. The logo in question: a bold letter "D." In addition, DMACC began using royal blue and light blue in its branding. Similar colors exist in Drake's brand guide.
As such, lawyers representing Drake allege DMACC has infringed on the university's trademark, causing confusion and misleading prospective students and others.
The lawsuit asks the judge for a preliminary injunction requiring DMACC to immediately stop using the standalone "D" and the blue-and-white color scheme.
Representatives for both schools attempted to reach an agreement prior to the lawsuit, court documents state. In a series of emails between Drake President Marty Martin and DMACC President Rob Denson, the two attempted to reach a compromise, but ultimately failed.
In a statement to Local 5, Drake President Marty Martin said in part, "The Drake University “D” and our brand colors have served as enduring symbols of school pride for more than 100 years. It is our responsibility to protect Drake University’s brand and trademarks because these assets hold significant value for our students, faculty, alumni, and broader Des Moines community."
DMACC also issued a statement, writing in part, "Drake University simply does not own the letter D. In fact, multiple universities use the letter D in their branding and many own federal trademark registrations for the same. Our hope is that we can move forward with our joint mission of providing students with a high-quality education.”