This is a mirror site.

This web site has been reproduced only for academic discussion, evaluation, research and complies with the copyright law of the United States as defined and stipulated under Title 17 U. S. Code.

Husker web pages, the University of Nebraska, and braindead policies


The University of Nebraska is threatening web pages that have the word "Husker" in their title -- as this one does -- according to the message attached below. Guess they'll have to go after these sites too:

Husker Power web site
Asger Schnack: Jeg Husker Alt
(AP) Husker QB Brook Berringer killed in plane crash near NU campus
Husker Du
Penstemon 'Husker Red' is 1996 Perennial Plant of the Year
Husker midwestern home design
Joel's Husker Page

-Declan McCullagh, August 15, 1996


Husker Web Pages Must Cease

To: huskers@pumpkin.tssi.com
Subject: Husker Web Pages Must Cease
From: mfricke@serv01.net-link.net (Mark E. Fricke)
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 17:59:55 -0400

I hate to be the bearer of real bad news, but if you have a personal
web site on the internet that features any logos, graphics, audio or
even the page name of Cornhusker or Husker (like the Husker Press Box)
be prepared to get a Cease and desist letter from the University of
Nebraska's attorney's. The problem is simple. A lot of money has been
paid to license the name and logo's of the Huskers and there are many
business interests to protect. Pinnacle Broadcasting is the exclusive
rights holder for internet usage of the name and logos (and you thought
the live broadcasts were all good).

Now..there are a couple of things we can do. #1 remove all references
to Huskers, Big Red, Cornhuskers etc. from THE PAGES TITLE. You can
still talk about, mention, berate or praise the team within the page,
just not in the page title. The reason here is that the University
wants all search engines (yahoo, excite, infoseek etc.) to send
searches for the Huskers to their site (huskerwebcast)

#2 remove all licensed logo's, pictures of Herbie audio of the band
etc. from your site.

#3 There is one more solution. Huskerwebcast will allow pages to exist
as they are if they are housed within THEIR page. Wether that mean they
will have hyperlinks to these hidden pages or if you will actually have
to set up an account and an FTP site to their server I'm not clear on.
I'm awaiting confirmation on this.

Okay, now my personal views. Yeah it's a bummer...a great big bummer. I
really don't see how private personal pages could possibly infringe on
the marketing dollars of the University (except for logos, you got me
there) But PAGE NAMES?!?!. They seem a little greedy fo rthe traffic.
I'm no lawyer (maybe some of you out there are and know something about
public domain)so I will do what I must with the Husker Press Box.  I
will still provide the page in some manner, either changing the name or
joining the University page. Luckily I have already been extended an
offer to do that. I will wait and see. My advise to other Husker wep
page masters. Be ready for a letter and be ready to reacte. this is a
big University with lots of money and lots of attorney's

Mark Fricke

This page maintained by declan@well.com