UO asks anti-illegal-immigrant group to change its logo

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The University of Oregon wants the politically conservative group Oregonians for Immigration Reform to stop using a green O logo on its website.

Though the logo is not identical to the one associated with the Ducks — it’s skinnier and has a fir tree in the middle — the university has threatened legal action if the group does not “change the stylization of its O.”

“We hope that this matter does not require the University of Oregon to bring legal action to force you to stop using its mark, but if it must, the University of Oregon may be able to obtain an injunction against your use” and seek financial penalties, said a letter from Portland law firm Klarquist Sparkman.

The Register-Guard reports the university sent the warning letter five days after it was asked to take trademark action by a student group that supports Oregon Chicanos in higher education.

Oregonians for Immigration Reform is best known for its 2014 initiative campaign in which Oregon voters overturned a state law that let unauthorized immigrants get drivers cards from the state Department of Transportation. Now, the group advocates scrapping the state’s sanctuary law.

The anti-illegal-immigration group did not return a phone call and email from The Register-Guard.

UO spokesman Tobin Klinger said the group has told the university it’s reviewing the letter: “But that’s the extent of the correspondence at this point.”

It’s not uncommon for the UO to send out such letters. The UO and its licensing partners have sent out about 20 such letters over the last three years regarding the O or other trademarked images, Klinger said.