Part of the new football uniforms that Pitt unveiled on Sunday were new blue face masks, mouth guards and visor tabs that were adorned with “412,” the school’s area code.
The last part has apparently come under fire from Pittsburgh-area retailer Shop 412.
Pitt safety and Central Catholic grad Damar Hamlin tweeted on Friday, which was April 12 or 4/12 Day, that the store had forced Pitt to remove the digits from its visor tabs.
According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, Shop 412 Corp. has owned the trademark to its stylized 412-based logo since 2012.
The digits on Pitt’s visor tabs were not styled in the same fashion as Shop 412’s logo.
Shop 412 said on Twitter they “are working” on an agreement with Pitt.
Pitt’s uniforms were developed in concert with Nike. Pitts’s previous helmet set had Nike logos on the visor tabs.
This is garbage. It’s the area code…how does this shop think they own the number 412. It’s not the same style is their logo — case closed. Resolve this quick or I will not be buying any more 412 gear.