OT- USC T-Shirt Sure Makes Six Zero Feel Ripped Off

Submitted by Six Zero on

USC and Marvel Comics announced a new partnership using Marvel properties and USC Trojan brands in licensed apparel and memorabilia.

Among the new ideas is this Lamar Dawson tee:

Hey, Let's Steal Six Zero's Martin Shirt Idea!!

 

Smells a whole lot like a certain Mike Martin design we cranked out last year (No pic displayed out of respect of the University of Michigan Athletic Department).  Now I'm not going to go so far as to say Marvel's ripping off the Marvel ripoff I designed last year, but it just leaves a really nasty taste in my mouth.  Am I overreacting? Yes.  But it begs the question:  Where's our freakin' Hulk shirt, Marvel????

Call me, Stan Lee.

 Click here to see the rest of the Marvel/Trojan mash-ups, and I hope it doesn't rain on your Friday like it has mine.  Thanks to UniWatch for the initial find.

TrppWlbrnID

September 23rd, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^

expect every single school to have these, with ironman in their school colors and the hulk's number to change for whoever the biggest lineman is.

martin actually does look like hulk though

74polSKA

September 23rd, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^

I think the most disappointing thing is the lack of creativity and individualism in advertising today.  Each school has such a different tradition and players with great stories but we'll end up with cookie cutter color-by-number gear.  Unfortunately, our only recourse is to not buy the products and hope for better designs in the future.  I have branding exhaustion and I'm a MotoGP fan, where they change sponsor hats during post-race interviews and every inch of their leathers covered with someone's logo. 

Edit:  On a side note, what are the licensing implications on DIY school gear?  Is it kosher to make something for your own use?  I've been considering buying a blue full face motorcycle helmet and having my dad paint the wings on it for me.  Other than having Buckeye fans try to run me off the road, would this cause any issues for me?

justingoblue

September 23rd, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^

Wouldn't the correct question be, "will anyone make this an issue for me"? I doubt anyone will take the time to try and stop a single person riding a motorcycle from painting wings on his helmet for noncommercial use. Even if Michigan's legal department had your name and address just laying around, how much does it cost to send a cease and desist letter compared to how much "damage" you do by wearing that helmet? My guess is nobody would do anything until you set up an internet shop.

74polSKA

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^

I think I'm trying to convince myself it's illegal because I really fear the possible backlash from local Buckeye fans.  I've also considered a Michigan hardhat for work but have the same fears.  It's definitely a challenge to be a fan in enemy territory.  Being Polish, I'm used to taking bad jokes, but it's another thing to piss someone off that could take you out.

david from wyoming

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^

Justingoblue is exactly correct. My motorcycle helmet is a custom maize and blue winged helmet design and other than people honking and giving me thumbs up on the road, it's not a big deal.

Lionsfan

September 23rd, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^

While it may be really generic it's still disappointing. I wish we still had our old cool shirts, I wanted to buy a couple of those. The current lineup isn't too bad though

Brodie

September 23rd, 2011 at 3:16 PM ^

so

let me get this straight

you feel ripped off because you used a copyrighted character (almost certainly without consent) on a shirt

and then the company that owns said character had the NERVE to make their own shirt using said character in a completely different context