ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Orange Beach City Schools is reminding families and fans that the district’s official logos are trademarked and may appear only on merchandise, apparel or other products made by an approved vendor.
The district said it appreciates the community’s enthusiasm for showing Mako pride — but that the pride must be expressed through the proper channels.
The Vendor List Is Closed for This Year
The school district announced that approved vendor partnerships for the 2026-2027 school year are now finalized. The district is not accepting additional vendor applications at this time.
Anyone wishing to create, sell or order items featuring the official Orange Beach City Schools logo must purchase from one of the district’s authorized sellers.
What the District Said
“We truly appreciate that so many of you want to use our logos to celebrate Orange Beach City Schools,” the district said in a social media post.
The school system asked for understanding as it maintains branding standards while keeping the Mako spirit alive.
Why Districts Trademark Their Logos
School trademark programs serve two purposes that are worth separating.
The first is legal. A trademark that is not enforced can weaken over time, and a district that permits unrestricted reproduction may find it harder to object later to a use it genuinely objects to — a design it considers inappropriate, a product it does not want associated with the school, or a commercial use that misrepresents an affiliation.
The second is financial, and in this case it is explicit.
Three Vendors Sponsor the District
Three approved vendors also sponsor Orange Beach City Schools. A percentage of proceeds from the merchandise and items they sell directly benefits students.
That revenue-sharing arrangement is the practical reason the approved list matters to families. A purchase from an authorized vendor returns a share to the school system; an identical-looking shirt from an unauthorized source does not. For a district the size of Orange Beach, licensing revenue is a modest but real funding stream that supports student programs.
What Families Should Do
Community members are encouraged to contact an approved vendor before placing any orders that feature official OBCS branding. Unauthorized vendors may not reproduce the school’s trademarked logos without permission.
The guidance applies most directly to the situations where informal reproduction tends to occur: team spirit shirts, booster fundraisers, custom orders for a class or club, and small-scale sales by individuals.
Families uncertain whether a particular seller is authorized should confirm with the district before ordering.
About Orange Beach City Schools
Orange Beach City Schools operates as an independent city school system in Baldwin County, serving students at Orange Beach Elementary School and Orange Beach Middle & High School. Its athletic teams compete as the Makos.