One of the most prevalent forms of IP in sports apparel, trademarks protect distinctive words, phrases, symbols, designs, and slogans that are used to identify goods or services. Sportswear companies like Nike, adidas, and Puma have iconic logos that are recognized worldwide.

In addition, professional sports teams, colleges and universities, and other organizations have logos, mascots, color schemes, and even typeface and font designs that are proprietary, and protected. The rationale behind trademark law is consumer protection.

Any business wishing to use something developed or created by another must secure permission. The mechanism for this is known as “licensing” – the process of negotiating and entering into licensing agreements.

Major sports teams and universities often enter into licensing agreements with apparel companies. For instance, the NBA might license its logo and team names to a company like Nike, allowing them to produce official jerseys. The same goes for high-profile athletes who license their names, images, or signatures for specific apparel lines.

Sports apparel brands sometimes collaborate with designers, celebrities, or other brands, creating limited-edition merchandise, and major sporting events like the Olympics or the FIFA World Cup have official merchandise, often produced by leading sportswear companies.