East Carolina University has filed a federal lawsuit against Cisco Systems Inc. over unauthorized use of its trademark slogan - "Tomorrow Starts Here" by the company.
Last year December, Cisco started off its $100 million marketing campaign using "Tomorrow Starts Here" slogan to promote its brand across the world.
"ECU has used the mark 'Tomorrow Starts Here' for over a decade, including in national advertisements and publications such as Forbes and Wired," ECU's Chancellor Steve Ballard said in a press statement. We feel it is essential to take action to protect that defining trademark of our identity and vision."
The University complained that Cisco's use of its trademark slogan violates both ECU's federally registered and common law trademark rights.
"Cisco takes intellectual property rights very seriously, and we are confident that our new campaign does not create any confusion in the marketplace," Karen Tillman, a Cisco Spokeswoman told Bloomberg.
The slogan appears right beside East Carolina University's name on websites, magazines and other sources.
"I'm surprised they missed this. I would have thought Cisco might have gone to the university in advance and try to head this off," Zeus Kerravala, principal analyst at ZK Research, told CIO-TODAY. "But I think it will get settled in court."
