The association accused a Virginia urology practice of trying to affiliate its brand with the March Madness tournaments. It is the second dispute with the practice in five years.
In its complaint, the N.C.A.A. said its concerns were the “likelihood of confusion” and “dilution by blurring” of its brand. The complaint was filed last month, but gained national attention from news outlets like NBC this week, ahead of the men’s college basketball tournament. The N.C.A.A. and Virginia Urology also disputed a “Vasectomy Madness” trademark in 2016.
“The N.C.A.A. objects to other businesses associating themselves with their tournament when they are not one of our corporate champions or partners,” Douglas Masters, the Chicago-based lawyer representing the N.C.A.A., said in an interview.
“We want the public to understand that those who market themselves in connection with the tournament are businesses who support the mission of the N.C.A.A. and the athletes that it serves,” he added.
The petition stated that the N.C.A.A. “believes it has been and will continue to be damaged by the registration for the mark ‘Vasectomy Mayhem.’”
The urology practice defended its trademark, saying in a statement that while it could not comment “on the specifics of a legal issue,” it believed that the trademark was not a source of confusion.
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