Logo rights 'D'-bate could cost DMACC or Drake University over $250,000
Des Moines Area Community College claims a court-ordered temporary rebrand will cost more than ten times the original estimate in a logo rights lawsuit against the college.
Drake University sued DMACC in July, alleging the school's logo was too similar to its own and violated copyright law. In November, a judge called the branding "nearly identical" and barred DMACC from using their "D" logo until a final ruling could be made in the case.
The decision also set a deadline to remove all usage before Dec. 13, with the stipulation that Drake University would DMACC $25,000 as reimbursement for removing the logo if the community college won the lawsuit.
DMACC VP of Student Affairs Erica Spiller told KCCI on Friday the school is working tirelessly to remove the logo from all uses as quickly as possible, but feels the decision underestimates the time and effort required to rebrand and is asking the court to increase how much Drake will be liable to pay.
"DMACC has 13 locations across central Iowa. We have over 35,000 students. We have over 60 buildings, 500 classrooms and public spaces. So it's a pretty significant effort to get all of those changed out," Spiller said. "We now know that the cost is much more than that to comply with that preliminary injunction, so we're asking for $250,000 rather than the $25,000."
This request is on the heels of a complaint from Drake accusing DMACC of continuing to use the logo after the court deadline to stop. If DMACC loses the suit, it will be liable for all rebranding costs.