PSU No Longer Helps Control JoePa Likeness

Penn State no longer helps manage the licensing of Joe Paterno’s name, likeness, and image, according to Assistant Director of Public Information Annemarie Mountz.

Some local retailers received a notification this morning that applied to the status of the Penn State/Paterno Licensing Program, which had formerly jointly controlled usage. In what is said to have been a mutual decision between the University and JVP Properties, the use of Joe Paterno’s name, likeness, and image will no longer be approved through the University, and Penn State will no longer approve any designs internally that feature his name, likeness, or image.

Paterno’s daughter Mary Kay Hort will manage the licensing program for JVP Properties, the now-exclusive licenser of Paterno’s identity.

Retail establishments will be able to sell any merchandise licensed under pre-existing contracts until their supplies are exhausted, according to the email, and licensees (manufactures) have 60 days to sell or dispose of the products.

image Dave Cole

Douglas D

For those who don’t know, JVP stands for Joseph Vincent Paterno.
Cameron Rowe

Don’t despose of them at the end of the 60 days, give them out!
Cameron Rowe

Dont dispose of them, just hand them out!
Rich

Reminds of the ban of the Penn State logo and such on shotglasses…. Except I still see them everywhere.
Regardless, this is not the way to handle the scandal. How about finding out exactly what Joe did wrong? Or are they keeping that information secret as well….
Eli G

A good deal of the feedback I’ve heard about this news on the social media have made it seem like this is bad for JoePa, and he’s being punished. He’s not. The fact is Joe Paterno no longer works for Penn State University. As such, it makes no sense for him to have his image/likeness partially controlled by the University. In this new arrangement, Paterno has sole control over where his face ends up. This is a good thing for JoePa, and a logical next step to his employment being terminated.
Eli G

Whether JoePa gear goes anywhere is up to JoePa. If it doesn’t, that’s up to him. If it does, it will be licensed from JoePa himself, not the University and JoePa.
JBL

I agree with Eli G. This is a GREAT thing for Paterno. I, for one, will continue to buy JoePa gear and I’m thrilled that his daughter is going to be in charge of managing the licensing. While all these years the university made $ from JoePa’s fame, they treated him terribly through this Sandusky scandal. I hope that JVP Properties is super successful as the ‘lone ranger’ in licensing of JoePa. I’d bet they will do something philanthropic with some of the proceeds, as in my opinion, THAT is what the Paterno name stands for. Good luck & this is great for JoePa & JVP Properties.