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[Matt M]

I am in the process of starting a new non profit youth baseball team.  It is not uncommon for teams to use professional baseball logos on their jerseys that they get made at the local sports store, or order online.  

Is it infringment to use these logos, or does the nature of the use make it legal.  For example a team like the new york yankees could be the southern new york yankees.  We wouldn't claim to actually own the rights to the yankees, just wear the jerseys.

I would greatly appreciate any advice, since I tend not to jump into things without checking up on the legality.

[JSonnabend]

I'm not aware of any case law directly on point, but copying a team's logo very well may not fall under any fair use exception to infringement (and it's almost certainly an infringement).  I imagine that one can buy youth uniforms with properly licensed MLB logos.

- Jeff

[clarklawyer]

My experience with Youth basketball is that the professional teams are very active in policing their marks and in making sure that leagues and teams that they allow to use their logos meet certain standards.  I'd be very surprised to hear that MLB treated their marks with any less care and concern.