Women face inquiry in confiscation of OU, OSU crafts
By Associated Press10/31/2007 9:04 AM
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Representatives from the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University face larceny of merchandise complaints following one of the country's largest arts and crafts shows where OU and OSU-themed merchandise was confiscated.
At least 15 vendors from this past weekend's An Affair of the Heart have filed individual complaints against the two university representatives, Oklahoma City police Capt. Steve McCool said Tuesday.
The vendors said the representatives -- both women -- produced business cards with their names and associations with their respective universities' licensing departments and told vendors they were violating state law by selling "an item that said 'OU Sooners' on it or an item that said 'OSU' in the school colors," McCool said.
They cited a counterfeiting statute and also had an off-duty officer from another jurisdiction who accompanied them, McCool said.
Calls to both universities' public affairs departments were not returned Tuesday.
The amount and value of the merchandise that was confiscated is unknown because "none of the vendors were given an itemized list of what was taken," McCool said.
"We have gotten indications from the Oklahoma County district attorney that they can't seize property the way they did it," he said. "Once those cases get assigned to the white-collar crime division, we're going to see if the activity of these two women rises to the level to be able to file a criminal charge."
No one has the right to seize property unless one of three conditions are met: a court order from a judge, an injunction that gives someone the right to seize property or if it's pursuant to an arrest and the seized property is evidence for a crime, McCool said.
He said at least three vendors also were left with a voluntary surrender of property form and were "coerced" to sign it.
"One vendor who was presented with this voluntary release of property form said, 'No, I'm not signing that. I refuse to sign it,' and the person just filled it out for her and signed her name," McCool said.
Connie Harris, one of the craft show's founders, said many vendors are upset by the situation and had to close down their booths.
"My husband was mentioning a lot of the things were merchandise that they bought that was licensed and altered -- like Hancock's carries OU and OSU licensed fabric. They just bought that and made a pillow. That's legal, and they confiscated stuff like that," Harris said.
She said the schools' representatives involved in the incident are Suzanne Staley, director of brand development at OU, and Judy Barnard, director of trademarks and licensing at OSU.
"These two ladies were very rude to my other partner and myself," Harris said. "We said we wanted some other kind of identification besides business cards. They wouldn't show us anything."
Harris said some vendors lost $3,500 to $4,500 worth of merchandise.
OU associate athletics director Kenny Mossman on Tuesday issued a statement by e-mail saying: "We encourage those who wish to use the OU trademarks to work through our long established process for licensure. We do this to ensure that vendors, especially those who sell in mass quantities, are following trademark guidelines.
"We have no desire to limit opportunity, but we have the right and responsibility to protect the marks and oversee appropriate use."
