So I know this a bit of a grey area but I need some insight on this.
My company uses a university's name in it's title, example, Vanderbilt Bubble. The school wants us to license the name in exchange for equity. The site does have to do with students, students organizations, and campus events. However, the company is in no way related to the university nor its message.
I see all these small companies around that use university names, example: Emory Laundromat, Vanderbilt Exchange. These businesses are related to the school merely in their proximity to campus. I sincerely doubt they have a license with school to use the name as the word "Emory" is merely a name like any other, referring to nothing necessarily.
So my question is, do we need this license? Is the addition of "Bubble" not enough to warrant an entirely new trademark?
thanks!

