Ohio State and Ohio University officials have yet to reach agreement over use of the word “Ohio.”Two months ago, OU officials informed OSU that they filed a request nearly a year ago to trademark the attack cat overlaying the word “Ohio.” OU’s trademark registration of its attack cat concerned OSU because it represents the second time OU had filed trademark rights for the use of “Ohio,” said Virginia Trethewey, OSU vice president for legal affairs. This leaves OU’s future expansion of the use of ‘Ohio’ as a big concern for OSU.OU has held a registered trademark since 1995 for the word “Ohio” on items used for entertainment and athletic purposes. OSU officials were not aware of this until OU told them about its application for the attack cat trademark.There is no law requiring OU to notify OSU about any trademark application it files with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Trethewey said. “We have no problem with OU using the term ‘Ohio,’ but we have used Ohio State and Ohio interchangeably in the past,” said Anne Chasser, OSU director of trademark and licensing.Trethewey said OSU is not looking to expand its use of the word “Ohio,” but that OSU has traditions and an image to protect.The trademark entitles OU to 7 percent of the wholesale cost of certain items, such as T-shirts and sweatshirts, that have “Ohio” on them.A meeting between OSU and OU officials, which took place Nov. 10, was described by both sides as productive.”They understand our position, and we are working toward a resolution of our concerns,” said William J. Napier, OSU executive assistant to the president.”We need to establish a process where permission is not required to market a product,” he said.John F. Burns, OU director of legal affairs, said “We’ve traditionally been known as Ohio, and we are essentially pursuing the trademark licensing for private resources.” According to OSU officials, licensed trademarked products generated more than $2 million last year for OSU.At OU, similar products generated about $100,000, Burns said.The relationship between OSU and OU is a big brother, little brother situation, Burns said. OU is not threatening to take away OSU’s use of “Ohio” in situations such as “Carmen Ohio” and Ohio Stadium, he added.”Our main concern is about the portrayal in the media of our athletic teams,” Burns said.OSU officials say they understand OU’s administrators’ desire to promote their university.”We don’t know what the future holds,” said Chasser. If OU was able to claim exclusive use of the word “Ohio,” then that would limit OSU’s options in the future, she said.Future meetings are planned for the coming weeks.