Edina Schools Ditch Hornet Logo Amid Lawsuit From Alumni Creator

EDINA, MN — Edina Public Schools will no longer use its signature hornet logo after an alumni who created the image sued the district this month, according to reports.

Michael Otto, whose hornet won a design contest in 1981, claimed the district violated his copyright protections by using the logo without his permission since 2019.

The lawsuit claims the Edina graduate is entitled to profits the district made by using his copyrighted logo without permission, as well as statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each further infringement by the district or third parties.

The suit alleges Otto has lost out on more than $75,000 due to the district's unauthorized uses of the logo.

For almost four decades, Edina Public Schools had used Otto’s hornet image for its branding on clothing, gear and other products under an agreement that required the district to ask for Otto’s permission each time it intended to use the logo.

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Otto “never refused permission to an ISD 273 request” to use the copyrighted logo, but the district broke the longstanding agreement during the 2019-20 school year by putting the logo on gear without his authorization, the lawsuit alleges.

Otto “repeatedly” told the district about its copyright violations during that school year before moving to terminate the contract in March 2021, according to the suit filed Jan. 3.

However, the district continues to violate the agreement by using the logo, the suit alleges.

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Edina Public Schools officials said in June 2021 that they unsuccessfully tried to negotiate the agreement or buy the logo’s copyright from Otto.

“Attempts at securing a more permissive agreement have been met with such resistance by Otto that the district is also working with a graphic design firm to create a new hornet design,” officials said.

Superintendent Stacie Stanley said in early January that the district can no longer use Otto’s logo and must also remove it from current products due to the lawsuit, the Star Tribune reported.

Otto, who is a community chaplain and professional Santa, told the Star Tribune he filed the lawsuit to make the district respect his copyright, not for money.