ATLANTA, Ga., (Nov. 19, 2007) – As The University of Utah and Brigham Young University prepare to face off in Saturday’s rivalry game, officials at both universities, in conjunction with The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), are making preparations to rid the marketplace of potential counterfeit and unlicensed merchandise.

CLC and the universities, along with local law enforcement officials, will patrol the Provo marketplace in search of counterfeiters selling “knock-off” merchandise. All counterfeit merchandise is subject to seizure.

The annual meeting between BYU and Utah is a fan favorite, ensuring a sell-out crowd for the home team. As such, it also brings out those looking to capitalize on the rivalry.

“We know there’s always a lot of excitement and passion around this game and people want to benefit from that,” said Brett Eden, Director of Licensing for BYU.  “We just want to make sure our fans and our brand are protected in the process.”

In addition to patrolling for unlicensed products, the universities also advise companies not to create unauthorized promotions around the big game.

“We applaud our community partners who want to show their spirit for this great rivalry, but we also have to protect our corporate partners who have invested in our programs for the rights to conduct ticket, prize, or merchandise promotions around the game,” said Shane Hinckley, Director of Licensing and Marketing for the University of Utah.  “Groups wishing to conduct promotions around the game should work with the University to obtain permission.”

As for purchasing Utah or BYU merchandise, consumers should always look for the following characteristics to ensure the merchandise they purchase is officially licensed:

• All officially licensed merchandise should display the “Officially Licensed Collegiate Product” Hologram somewhere on the product or hangtag.

• The merchandise should depict the Utah and/or BYU logos and marks in a tasteful manner, as the universities do not approve distasteful designs.

• The tag on the garment should be intact. A torn or missing tag is evidence of a second-hand garment, one that probably would not meet the stringent quality standards in place at each university.

• All merchandise should bear the name of the manufacturer somewhere on the product, either in the form of a hangtag, a neck label, or screen-printed directly on the garment.

• All merchandise should have the appropriate trademark designations (i.e. TM, â) next to a specific name or design.

The Collegiate Licensing Company is the official licensing agency for both universities vying for the Beehive Boot this weekend.

 About The Collegiate Licensing Company:

The Collegiate Licensing Company is the oldest and largest collegiate licensing agency in the nation. CLC currently represents more than 200 colleges, universities, bowl games, athletic conferences, The Heisman Trophy, and the NCAA (including the Men’s and Women’s Final Four, the College World Series, and all NCAA Championships). Headquartered in Atlanta, CLC is a full-service licensing representative, which employs a staff of more than 80 licensing professionals who provide full-service capabilities in brand protection, brand management, and brand development.