Court Date Set for Case of Univ. of Alabama vs. Sports Artist

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama—A U.S. District Court judge has set an August court date in the case of the University of Alabama versus sports artist Daniel Moore, the Tuscaloosa News reports. The decision dismisses requests from both sides for the case to be decided without a trial.

The trial is set to begin nearly three and a half years after the university sued Moore, who makes prints and paintings of Crimson Tide football games, among other works, for trademark violations. Judge U.W. Clemon explained the trial was necessary because too many facts are in dispute. In particular, it is not clear whether Moore’s paintings confuse Alabama sports fans about who benefits directly from the purchase of one of his works.

The university and Moore have had a nearly 25-year professional relationship, including a several years where Moore did not seek licensing for his paintings and another period during which the university licensed his work, the judge explained in his decision.