Oklahoma State University sues NMSU over mascot

It’s a gunfight at the Oklahoma State University corral.
OSU is suing NMSU for trademark infringement over the school’s mascot, Pistol Pete.

Abc-7 obtained a copy of the lawsuit.

Students Abc-7 spoke with were pretty surprised to learn about the lawsuit.

“I don’t think Oklahoma State has monopoly on men with mustaches,” one student said.

The suit, which was filed in an Oklahoma federal court Monday, claims NMSU copied OSU’s mascot.

Both mascots are based on a real-life cowboy, Frank Eaton who was involved in a gunfight up north in Albuquerque in 1881 and has Oklahoma ties.

OSU has used the Pistol Pete mascot since the 1930’s. NMSU adopted it during the 1960’s. According to NMSU’s website, they paid OSU royalties for using the mascot.

As part of the lawsuit, OSU is asking NMSU to stop using the mascot altogether, destroy anything bearing the gun-slinging logo and pay OSU or any profit made off the mascot.

Pete has gone through lots of changes through the years. In 2004, after 40 some years, his gun was taken away and he was dubbed “Lasso Larry.”
A year later, Pete got his name and his gun back, but did go through a small makeover. For that very reason students say it’s a little too late to come after what NMSU now calls “Classic Aggie.”

“We already changed it there’s no point to so a lawsuit now,” one student said.

In a statement, NMSU says they are confident both schools will come to an agreement. Aggie fans hope they do.

“Lawsuits today are just petty. Everyone’s trying to find money in weird places,” NMSU student Peter Martinescu said.