Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,661 posts)
Sat Sep 30, 2023, 08:28 AM Sep 2023

New College of Florida sends legal warning to opposition 'Alt New College' group

EDUCATION

New College of Florida sends legal warning to opposition 'Alt New College' group

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/education/2023/09/29/ron-desantis-richard-corcoran-new-college-of-florida-takes-legal-action-against-alt-new-college/71008337007/

Steven Walker
Sarasota Herald-Tribune

New College of Florida sent a cease and desist letter to an online learning platform run by several ex-students and campus leaders on Thursday.

Alt New College, established just weeks ago through the New York-based Bard College, is "an online institute to support the academic freedom of faculty and students following the hostile takeover of New College of Florida," according to the organization's website.

It faces legal action claiming the organization infringed on the "New College" trademark.

The cease-and-desist letter sent by the Miami-based law firm Malloy & Malloy, directs the organization to remove any mention of "New College" or "Alt New College" from its website or any other materials. It also directs Alt New College to transfer its website domain, altnewcollege.org, and social media handles, @altnewcollege, to the trademark holder.

The organization has until Oct. 6 to comply with the cease-and-desist letter's directions before further legal action is taken, according to the letter.

“Imitation is the best form of flattery,” said New College spokesperson Nate March in a statement to the Herald-Tribune, “but in this case it’s highly illegal.”

The letter also included photo references to pages on the organization's website that refer to New College. As of Friday evening, the organization's website and social media pages were still active.

Alt New College representatives were not immediately available for comment.

{snip}

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
New College of Florida sends legal warning to opposition 'Alt New College' group (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2023 OP
That's a hair splitter bucolic_frolic Sep 2023 #1
How about "The Nu-Nu College" KatyaR Sep 2023 #2
"New College" is too generic a name to be trademarked lapfog_1 Sep 2023 #3
"Gone-To-Shit College In Florida" The Unmitigated Gall Sep 2023 #4
The College of the New Third Reich magicarpet Sep 2023 #5

bucolic_frolic

(47,639 posts)
1. That's a hair splitter
Sat Sep 30, 2023, 08:37 AM
Sep 2023

'new college' I doubt can be deemed a legal trademark because the words are generic. Not so for "New College" perhaps.

Thus, I see the website which does not contain capital letters as no problem.

Ditto for alt new college.

lapfog_1

(30,233 posts)
3. "New College" is too generic a name to be trademarked
Sat Sep 30, 2023, 08:55 AM
Sep 2023

but with the corrupt Florida courts...

They will have to remove all references (direct references) to New College from their web site.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Education»New College of Florida se...