Even with Shaka Smart, Texas can't take 'HAVOC' slogan from VCU
By Matt Norlander | College Basketball Writer
May 5, 2015 10:04 am ET
HAVOC lives in Richmond, Va., and it will stay that way. (USATSI)
Shaka Smart primarily made his reputation on three things in his six seasons at VCU: Reaching a Final Four in 2011, making five NCAA tournaments and branding his team's style of play as "HAVOC." VCU recruited a certain type of player and certain style of athlete, and that helped Smart turn the Rams into a Top 25 program.
But when Smart took the Texas job a month ago, I couldn't help but wonder what would become of HAVOC and who would take ownership of it -- or if it could/would be shared between Smart's old school and his new one. Initially, Texas flirted with the idea of bringing the motto/slogan to Austin.
But that won't be happening -- for legal reasons. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports UT has dropped its bid to move HAVOC to Austin, as it is VCU, not Smart, that owns the legal rights and trademark.
Texas filed an express abandonment of its application to register the marks “HORNS HAVOC” and “HOUSE OF HAVOC” on April 29 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ... Trademark specialists in the Richmond area say the decision to abandon registration does not prevent Texas from filing a new application or attempting to use Havoc in its marketing.
“This abandonment does not prevent the University of Texas from using those marks, but merely ends its effort to obtain federal registrations for them,” said John B. Farmer, attorney for Leading-Edge Law Group, based in Henrico County.
Interesting. Wonder how Smart and Texas will maneuver going forward. "HAVOC" was a big selling point for the 38-year-old coach. Think about it: How many teams' offensive or defensive philosophies can you name? Precisely. This is about PR as much as it is about winning basketball games.
VCU had "HAVOC" registered as an official trademark back in 2012.
And new Rams coach Will Wade, a former assistant under Smart, has said he'll continue to use HAVOC. He got around this while at Chattanooga for two years, employing a "CHAOS" scheme/style of play. Perhaps Smart will do something similar. Time to get creative, because once again, VCU just won by playing defense.
Topics: Texas Longhorns, VCU Rams, NCAAB
