I am a trademark lawyer.
The Villages has the word mark THE VILLAGES and THE VILLAGES (Stylized logo) registered as trademarks for numerous goods and services.
If they did not protect the marks against unlicensed uses they would lose the marks. They are only doing what the law requires them to do to protect their marks.
They could choose to allow the uses, under a written license, but are under no obligation to do so. The marks are theirs to exploit as they feel best.
It appears that they want to control the outlets selling logo merchandise and they are fully within their rights.
|