‘D vs. D:’ How a Single Letter Led to an Iowa University Suing a Community College

Two central Iowa educational institutions are embroiled in a legal battle over trademarks after one's new logo change draws parallels and potential confusion over who is who.

Des Moines' Drake University is suing Des Moines Area Community College (locally referred to as "DMACC") in federal court over the community college's new rebranding effort, per Iowa Capital Dispatch. DMACC's new logo features a single-character logo of the letter "D," and its block-style font looks very similar to the one used by Drake for the last 122 years.

In a "reporter on the street" style, KCCI asked several members of the general public if they could tell which "D" belonged to which school. Most guessed incorrectly, heightening the confusion.

DMACC is defending its new logo saying, "Drake University simply does not own the letter D."

Maybe we should get Duke University, whose own "D" logo is iconic and synonymous with academic and athletic excellence, to be the arbitrator on the case...

Drake University is suing DMACC's foundation for "federal trademark infringement, unfair competition, injury to business reputation, and unjust enrichment," per Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Perhaps this wouldn't be such an ordeal if both schools didn't serve the same general area nor court the same student population for enrollment. For example, Drake is only a five-minute drive from DMACC's urban campus. Drake claims that DMACC using the blue "D" is problematic for that very reason.

Drake claims their representatives have spent months trying to resolve the dispute without taking legal action, but now must seek an injunction for the protection of its brand. The lawsuit states that Drake's vice president of advancement spoke to DMACC's marketing director in late 2023 to express concerns, but no action was taken on DMACC's part:

DMACC has adopted the infringing marks to fraudulently seek and take from Drake the custom, goodwill, and business Drake has established and maintained - Drake University's lawsuit against DMACC, per Iowa Capital Dispatch

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In my humble opinion, without a legal leg to stand on, I think it'll be difficult for DMACC to win this case on the basis that Drake University has held ownership over theirs for over 100 years. It's certainly going to be a story to follow, and also leaves DMACC's rebranded identity in legal limbo for the time being.

Read more about the ongoing lawsuit on Iowa Capital Dispatch's website.