Nathan Lindahl had this to say about copyright law: "The goal of a law should be that ensures and maintains a healthy culture. Sometimes that means providing for those who don’t have too much."
As a graphic designer for the student involvement office, I deal with the Washington State University copyright policies quite frequently. WSU has clear and distinct rules regarding the WSU cougar head logo and the Washington State University letterhead. The goal of these rules is to preserve the integrity of the logo and the reputation of the school. Explained simply, the main regulations state that the cougar head cannot "eat" or "wear" anything; it can not have anything placed in it's mouth and it can not have anything following the curve of its back. Although these rules are not providing anything for anyone, they contribute positively to a healthy culture. WSU resides in a small town and has gotten a bad reputation in the past for the social lives of the students however the logo has been a steadfast and long standing aspect of WSU culture. It deserves to be treated with respect and these regulations are securing the integrity of the logo and what it represents. I think copyright law has some definite flaws, can cause trouble and can be down right confusing but when it comes to WSU, copyright law is a blessing in disguise.
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