New York State is trying to re-establish ownership of its "I [Heart] NY" slogan/graphic, despite the fact that it's become practically a de facto part of the public domain since its introduction 31 years ago in 1977. The state is currently reinvigorating the slogan to promote day-trip tourism within the state.
With that comes a renewed crackdown on the use of the iconic Milton Glaser-designed logo (it's a fair bet no license fees were paid for the logo on the countless t-shirts and other tchotchkes souvenir vendors hawk). The Empire State Development Corporation's marketing head admitted to the NY Times the state hasn't done the best job of protecting its trademarked property.
The lost license fees probably total in the tens of millions of dollars, but ironically, one target of enforcement in recent years was Glaser himself! Glaser donated his work to the state free of charge in a fit of a municipal love and has not received a dime. Still, when he tried to rework his own work after the September 11 attacks with a "I [Heart] New York More Than Ever", the Pataki administration threatened to sue Glaser for trademark infringement.
What is acceptable: Honda paying $45,000 to use "I [Heart] NY" in a commercial.
