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It was a matchup that had to be played out in the Supreme Court and not the Coliseum, but the University of Southern California emerged triumphant over the University of South Carolina. The prize--not a coveted trophy or ring--is the rights to the interlocking letters of "SC," as determined by a ruling in a trademark case, according to the LA Times.
It's West Coast trumps East Coast: "The high court turned down an appeal from USC in Columbia, S.C., which since 1997 has sought to register its own "SC" logo for the sale of sports merchandise."
USC blocked the Gamecocks, though, and a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board agreed, concluding that "although 'real fans' would not be fooled, casual fans might be confused as to whether the sportswear came from the West Coast or the East Coast school."
No matter how the University of South Carolina locks their letters or stylizes them with curves, "SC" means the Trojans. Plus, added USC lawyer Michael Adler: "We have always been 'SC,' and we were there first."
