T Shirts Prompt Legality Issues

Following the murder of UConn Football Cornerback, Jasper Howard, someone decided to use Gamedaytease.com to create memorial T shirts to commemorate his loss. However, Connecticut's attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, exclaims that the shirts are illegally using his name, image, and the UConn logo. No one registered with the Public Charities Unit beforehand or had permission to use Howard's picture along with the UConn logo. It is a copyright law says Blumenthal. Hwoever, Gamedaytease.com explains that it was a complete misunderstanding. Their idea was to contribute to the tragedy in any way possible. Their intention was to give all proceeds to the Jasper Howard fund, not slander his image on thousands of T shirts. The Jasper Howard fund is one of only two that the athletic department created in order to help Howard's family, funeral costs and his yet to be born child. "Gameday Tease LLC has not complied with these charitable solicitation requirements," the attorney general wrote. He argues that they violated the law that requires commercial co-ventures to register with the PCU. Blumenthal believes that the website ignored the charitable organization fact and went against laws that stated it had to be done. As another form of remembrance, UConn coach Randy Edsall says that his team will be sporting Howard's initials on their helmets for the remainder of the season and bring his jersey and helmet to the rest of the games.



http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/24/connecticut.football.player.death/index.html