Cheerleading Uniform Copyrights Backed by U.S. Supreme Court
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Members of the USC Song Girls squad perform with cardinal and gold pompoms during a game against the Washington State Cougars on Oct. 29, 2005, in Los Angeles.
Photographer: Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld an apparel company’s copyrights on its cheerleading outfits in a ruling that bolsters the legal protections for pictures and graphic designs.
The 6-2 ruling is a victory for Varsity Brands LLC, the world’s largest cheerleading-uniform company. It lets the company press ahead with claims that smaller rival Star Athletica LLC copied five proprietary designs.