Hover Helmet creator responds to our efforts - Needs our help/offers discount

Submitted by ska4punkkid on

Big Blue Nation,

 

Well, you certainly have my attention! My web traffic, and Inbox, have been bombarded by you Michigan fanatics over the past week. I suppose I owe a “thank you” to ska4punkkid.

 

I will try to keep this short, but I want you all to be informed.

 

Despite living in Alabama right now, I was born in Michigan (Wayne County) and was raised with Bo, Brady and Biakabutuka. From Day 1 of this Hover Helmets business, I have dreamed of someday floating the Winged Maize and Blue helmet. I might even have a custom made one floating here in the office, but that’s just between us. U of M is an EXTREMELY difficult license to obtain. For reference, I have applied to 75 NCAA Universities. I have been approved by 73. And Texas is on a licensing freeze. And Michigan is not.

 

I would love for the U of M Licensing Director to know that you guys want this product. Your emails have certainly not been the first from angry Michigan fans wondering why I have Marshall but not Michigan! I may look crazy, but I havent completely lost my mind… yet. I have reached out to her (Licensing Dir.) twice in an attempt to learn why my application has been denied. Neither of my Voicemails have been returned. I hope that she will reach out soon.

 

From where I am sitting, MGOBLOG seems to have a powerful site with quite a bit of influence. Perhaps your voice needs to be heard by the Licensing Department. I will leave that to ska4punkkid!

 

If I may leave you with this… we are launching a new website on 8/1 that will contain the other 13 BIG 10 Universities. I havent forgotten your great conference, I promise. If your team can help me get the 14th team on board, I will gladly offer your MGOBLOG patrons an aggressive discount on the first run of MICHIGAN HOVER HELMETS!

 

Sincerely and GO BLUE!

 

Michael

 

Way to go guys! - whats our next step? How do we reach out to licensing, anyone know?

EDIT: I found the contact info for the licensing department. I will create a seperate post with details and instructions!

samsoccer7

June 16th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^

I'm so in if this gets done. My friends cousin has a college apparel company and she also said that Michigan is very tough with licensing. That said, I wonder why there's still so much garbage stuff out there then.

rainingmaize

June 16th, 2016 at 6:55 PM ^

Thanks to etsy, a ton of unlicensed crap is out there for all schools. In addition, a lot of crappy products like magnets and ugly decals get licensed because there are about two or three companies out there that only do these products and make a ton of money selling them.

julesh

June 16th, 2016 at 4:59 PM ^

I'm guessing the staff here has at least been in contact with the licensing department at some point. Since I don't think they read every thread, maybe reach out to them on Twitter?

Blueblood2991

June 16th, 2016 at 4:59 PM ^

Welp time to bombard the licensing department than I guess. I'll be damned if Rutgers has one of these and not Michigan.

Kristen Ablauf
   Director of Trademark Licensing
   University of Michigan
   1000 S. State Street
   Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2201
   Tel: (734) 763-4183
   Fax: (734) 764-3221
   E-Mail: [email protected]

For information on how to become a licensee and produce University of Michigan merchandise, contact:

   The Collegiate Licensing Company
   290 Interstate North
   Suite 200
   Atlanta, GA 30339
   Tel: (770) 956-0520
   Website: www.clc.com

ghostofhoke

June 16th, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^

Looks like the gauntlet has been thrown down to this community. We now have our summer work cut out for us. Let's get this fucking helmet done already. Pitchforks???



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ghostofhoke

June 16th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^

Done

Dear Mrs. Ablauf,

I'm writing to inquire as to why the application for licensing has not been granted to the floating helmet company that requested it. As a class of '99 alum, die hard fan and collector, it's quite disheartening to hear that 73 other universities including 13 from the Big 10 conference have granted permission yet the most ravenous fanbase in the world cannot get access to a very cool piece of memorabilia.

I'm sure your office gets bombarded with requests for product licensing, I doubt you've had a request for such an innovative product. I realize the winged helmet is iconic and protecting such a legacy is a difficult job. The truth is we are all stakeholders in that legacy and I think you'll realize very soon this is something we want, badly.

I hope you can take some time in the very near future to consider this application so we the fans who support the University, the athletic department and the football program can have access to a product we would really like to add to our collections.

Thank you in advance for your consideration

Best Regards,



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

PopeLando

June 16th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^

Correct me if I'm wrong, but upon losing power the helmets cease hovering, right? So if there's a power outage or if your kids decide to appropriate the wrong outlet, you're down one Hover Helmet...

JamieH

June 16th, 2016 at 7:07 PM ^

If if doesn't make noise, I'm all in.

If it's noisy, that would kinda ruin things.  Otherwise, I have to admit, this is bizarre, but pretty sweet. 

csmhowitzer

June 17th, 2016 at 7:11 AM ^

the big blue thing asside and all, I'm in for the email. I may not buy one but if it gets the site a discount and some of you lovely people get somethign you want for less then it all works out. I'd like to get something like this or my man cave in the future but I'm still building it so nowhere to store it yet.