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WHO’S GOT THE RIGHTS TO YOUR COLORS??

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A recent article about a dispute between a crocheting college football player’s right to sell or give away his team-colored caps and scarves created quite a stir.  Since I have an inside line to an attorney, I asked his opinion.  Here’s what he told me – couched in lawyer-like wording, of course.

Follow this link to the original discussion:

http://briansawyer.net/2007/01/03/real-men-also-crochet/#comment-13456

Then, read the lawyer’s ‘response’ to my question:  Does the NCAA have the ability to copyright team color schemes or to prevent a player from making/selling/donating caps and scarves in said colors?

“A similar issue recently came up when A-B marketed cans of Budweiser in school colors. No Logos or names were used, just colors — though A-B acknowledged that it was using the color schemes of many of the big NCAA programs (Black and Gold cans in Columbia, MO for example). This caused something of a flap and drew legal threats from the schools and the NCAA. I’m sure that you can more on Google news. A-B relented, though I am not sure whether it was legal threats or public pressure that caused them to cancel the promotion. Regardless of anyone’s thoughts on the product being sold, or the wisdom of such a promotion in that context, I found it odd that the schools and the NCAA felt that they had some sort of entitlement to all of these simple, two-color schemes. That may or may not relate to the matter at hand. Looking more specifically at the question you raise, there are a couple of questions and, unfortunately, I don’t have any good answers. 1. Does the NCAA have a valid IP monopoly on the team color scheme? I tend to think not, but I don’t know. It seems more likely to me that they have lawyers who can make noise, knowing that their targets have less by way of resources. (Note the ongoing, and local, North Face/SouthButt flap) 2. Is the player contractually prohibited from engaging in this activity? This seems like a more likely possibility. I’ve never seen a player scholarship agreement, but I’m guessing they contain all sorts of prohibitions, especially with regard to the athlete’s making money off of his athletic relationship with the NCAA and the school while that relationship is ongoing. That again is just a guess. Unfortunately I don’t have any more intelligent insights on the matter.”

Comments

  1. I googled more about this as I was curious as to why he was prohibited and found an article (link below) and the reason for the ban was due to NCAA regulations prohibiting athletes from using their name or likeness to promote or sell commercial goods.

    http://www.idahostatesman.com/ianjohnson/story/77835.html

    The regulations also extended to his wedding – no freebies or discounts not available to the general public.

  2. Funny you should mention this. My Hubby is a photographer and has been debating taking pictures of local public buildings and landmarks. He knows he can’t sell a picture taken of a private home but the legal restrictions/rules on selling pics of a Government or public university landmark/building are as clear as mud!

    Frustrating for the creative types ya know!

Have you read?

Red Melt The Ice Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern Review

Some crochet projects are made simply because we need a warm hat. Some are made because we need a quick gift, a stash-busting project, or something easy to work on while watching television. And then there are crochet projects that carry a message.

This Red Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern PDF sits firmly in that last category.

Inspired by the Melt the ICE craftivism movement, this red crochet beanie is more than just a wearable winter accessory. It is a handmade political statement — soft, practical, visible, and rooted in the long tradition of protest through craft.

You can find the Red Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern PDF here.

Crochet as Protest

Crafters have always had a way of saying things with their hands. Quilts have carried coded messages, embroidery has documented women’s lives, banners have marched through the streets, and yarn crafts have wrapped public spaces in colour and defiance.

This beanie belongs to that same creative lineage.

The phrase Melt the ICE gives this pattern its political edge. It connects the humble red crochet hat to conversations around immigration enforcement, detention, family separation, human rights, community care, and the role ordinary people can play in public protest.

And that is what makes this pattern interesting. It is not loud in the way a placard is loud, but it is visible. A red handmade hat catches the eye. It invites questions. It gives the maker a way to wear their values without needing to shout over anyone.

Sometimes craftivism works because it is disarming. People expect political protest to be hard-edged, but handmade work brings something different to the conversation. It says, “I cared enough to make this stitch by stitch.”

About the Pattern

The pattern itself is beginner-friendly and refreshingly straightforward. The hat is worked flat in rows, then seamed and gathered to create a relaxed slouch beanie shape. That makes it especially approachable for crocheters who are still building confidence with wearable projects.

Instead of needing to work in the round or fuss with crown shaping from the start, you are essentially making a rectangle and turning it into a hat. I love that kind of construction because it gives beginners a real sense of achievement. You are not just practising stitches — you end up with something wearable and meaningful.

The design uses a textured crochet fabric, giving the finished beanie a cozy, slightly chunky look. The slouchy shape keeps it casual and modern, while the bold red colour gives it that unmistakable activist feel.

Why Red Matters

The red yarn is not just a colour choice here. It is part of the visual language of the project.

Red is urgent. Red is warm. Red is visible in a crowd. It can suggest anger, love, warning, solidarity, courage, and care all at once. For a political crochet project, that matters.

A red slouch beanie can be worn to rallies, community events, mutual aid gatherings, craftivism meet-ups, or simply out in everyday life as a quiet statement of support. It is one of those pieces that can be as bold or as subtle as the wearer wants it to be.

Of course, you could make the pattern in any colour, but for the Melt the ICE inspiration, red feels intentional. It gives the hat its message before a single word is spoken.