UMD Reporter Kit
University of Maryland vs. a Cannabis Company:
Whose Actions Reflect the Values UMD Teaches?
Every reporter who has interviewed us about this dispute has asked some version of the same question: Who is Terps USA?
We’re a Colorado company founded in 2019. Our name reflects “terps,” common cannabis-industry shorthand for terpenes—the products we sell. We have explained where our former logo came from, what we are willing to change and what we are not willing to surrender.
After answering that question repeatedly, we decided to turn it around: Who does the University of Maryland say it is? We looked at UMD’s published values, educational programs and statements about communication, respect, critical thinking, problem solving and working with outside organizations.
DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT. EVERY IMPORTANT STATEMENT BELOW LINKS TO ITS ORIGINAL SOURCE OR SUPPORTING DOCUMENT.
What UMD Says vs. What Happened
The comparison below distinguishes UMD’s published words, the documented record, Terps USA’s position and questions that remain unanswered.
“Talk early, talk often.”
UMD University Relations also says: “We stay aligned through open and frequent dialogue.”
Terps USA stop using its company name and logo and voluntarily surrender its federal trademark registration within 30 days.
TERPS USA RESPONDEDTerps USA rejected surrender of its name and registration, responded through counsel and left the door open to a conversation about UMD’s concerns.
“Find the ‘yes’ that moves us forward.”
UMD University Relations also says “Seek solutions” and describes looking for a “bridge to yes.”
Abandon the TERPS USA company name and voluntarily surrender the federal registration.
TERPS USA RESPONDEDTerps USA refused to surrender its name and registration while offering to discuss the visual branding and UMD’s specific logo concerns.
“We lead with respect.”
UMD University Relations says: “Be real. Be clear. Be kind.” Its values also emphasize openness to other people’s points of view.
A seven-year-old business abandon its established company name and surrender its federal registration within 30 days.
TERPS USA RESPONDEDTerps USA defended its business identity while acknowledging that concerns involving the former visual branding could reasonably be discussed.
Critical Thinking + Problem Solving
UMD’s Smith School says its Value Creation Challenge has students work with an outside organization on a real-world business problem and develop solutions. UMD reports the idea grew from conversations involving Greg Schaub.
Complete compliance within 30 days, including abandonment of the company name and surrender of its federal registration.
TERPS USA ASKEDWhat realistic path would allow a seven-year business with products, customers, websites, packaging and an established identity to comply within 30 days and remain in business?
TERPS USA RESPONDEDIt retained counsel, defended its name and registration and invited discussion of a workable resolution.
“Here’s our problem... Help us solve it.”
Schaub described a model in which companies approach universities with a problem and students work toward solutions.
Understand an outside organization’s problem and work toward a solution.
SCHAUB’S EMAIL TO TERPS USA“Your company has stolen the name and trademarked image from the University of Maryland. Legal action to follow.” The email asked no question and proposed no discussion.
Don’t Take Our Word for It
We’ve made our position clear. But reporters should not have to rely on our characterization of what happened.
Every significant comparison is supported by the University of Maryland’s published words, original correspondence, legal documents, public records or independent reporting.
Check the chronology.
Draw your own conclusions.
What UMD Says
Division of University Relations — Mission, Vision & Values
Contains “Talk early, talk often,” “Find the ‘yes’ that moves us forward,” “Seek solutions,” “bridge to yes,” and “We lead with respect.”
VIEW ORIGINAL UMD SOURCE →President Darryll Pines — “Who We Are as Terps”
President Pines wrote that difficult conversations should be approached with respect and civility, and that UMD should remain focused on being respectful, accountable and open to growth.
VIEW PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT →Smith School — Value Creation Challenge
UMD says the idea grew from conversations involving Schaub, professor Oliver Schlake and the Center for Social Value Creation. Students work on solutions for an actual organization’s business problem.
VIEW UMD SOURCE →Greg Schaub — Value Creation Challenge Interview
Schaub discusses critical thinking, problem solving, working with outside organizations, hands-on experience and the “Here’s our problem... Help us solve it” model.
VIEW ORIGINAL INTERVIEW →One Email Left Us With Another Question
While looking at UMD’s stated values, we came back to an email Terps USA received months before the university’s cease-and-desist letter.
On December 1, 2025, UMD alumnus Greg Schaub responded to an ordinary Terps USA customer email: “Your company has stolen the name and trademarked image from the University of Maryland. Legal action to follow.”
At the time, we did not know why Schaub believed legal action would follow. Months later, UMD sent its cease-and-desist letter.
We still do not know what Schaub knew or why he wrote those words.
UMD alumnus and longtime volunteer
UMD’s Alumni Association identifies Schaub as a 1982 graduate, longtime volunteer and 2021 Legacy Award recipient. UMD reports that he served as chair of the Alumni Association Board of Governors’ Finance Committee and helped establish the Texas Terp Scholarship with his wife.
VERIFY WITH UMD →“Problem solving and critical thinking”
UMD’s Smith School says the Value Creation Challenge grew from conversations between Schaub, professor Oliver Schlake and the Center for Social Value Creation. Schaub described its purpose as teaching students to apply these skills to an outside organization.
VIEW UMD SOURCE →We think the contrast raises a fair question. Schaub’s email did not ask about the origin of the Terps USA name, how the logo was created, whether Terps USA knew about UMD’s branding, or propose a conversation. It accused the company of stealing and ended: “Legal action to follow.”
Where was the curiosity? Where was the critical thinking? Where was the attempt to understand the problem before reaching a conclusion?
Those are questions—not conclusions.
The Washington Post Asked.
The Answer Left Another Question.
The Washington Post reviewed Schaub’s email and reported on it on September 6, 2026. The Post reported that Schaub did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
UMD did respond. According to The Washington Post, UMD said that neither its Trademarks and Licensing office nor attorney Ben Forville had been contacted by Schaub about the Terps USA name or logo.
That answers an important question.
But it doesn’t answer the broader one.
Did Schaub communicate with anyone else at the University of Maryland about Terps USA before writing “Legal action to follow”?
We don’t know. And we are not claiming that he did.
UMD’s statement, as reported by The Washington Post, addressed two specific potential contacts. The Post did not report a broader statement from UMD that Schaub had never communicated with anyone at the university about Terps USA.
READ THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTING →Questions Still Unanswered
Reporter Timeline
Terps USA begins operating.
USPTO issues TERPS USA federal registration.
Schaub sends the email accusing Terps USA of stealing UMD’s name/image and states “Legal action to follow.”
UMD President Darryll Pines publishes “Who We Are as Terps,” emphasizing respect and civility in difficult conversations.
Terps USA changes its website/product branding to green and gold before receiving UMD’s cease-and-desist.
UMD files a new TERPS federal trademark application.
UMD sends cease-and-desist.
Terps USA’s attorney responds, rejects surrender of the name/registration and invites discussion.
The Washington Post publishes its investigation, including Schaub’s email and UMD’s specific response.
Original Documents
UMD Cease-and-Desist
Original legal document.
VIEW ORIGINAL →Terps USA Attorney Response
Original legal response.
VIEW ORIGINAL →Original Greg Schaub Email
Complete email context, including the preceding customer email.
VIEW ORIGINAL EMAIL →USPTO Trademark Records
Records represented in the source gallery below.
VIEW RECORDS →Media-Ready Images
These images may be used by news organizations reporting on the Terps USA / University of Maryland dispute. Please credit Terps USA where appropriate.
Current Terps USA Logo
DOWNLOAD IMAGE →
Former Logo · Archival
DOWNLOAD IMAGE →
Ken Fry Headshot
DOWNLOAD IMAGE →
Terp Spray · Archival
DOWNLOAD IMAGE →Trademark Record Screenshots
Screenshots of the TERPS records included in the dispute research: three UMD records marked dead/abandoned and the live TERPS USA registration.
Questions or Interview Request?
Ken Fry
Founder, Terps USA LLC
Pueblo, Colorado
info@terpsusa.com
(720) 803-8630
Terps USA is available to provide original documents, answer questions about the chronology and participate in interviews.
Reporters are encouraged to independently contact the University of Maryland and Greg Schaub for their responses to the questions raised here.
University of Maryland — Division of University Relations
“Talk early, talk often.”
“Communicate proactively: We stay aligned through open and frequent dialogue.”
“Find the ‘yes’ that moves us forward.” “Seek solutions.” “We lead with respect.”VIEW ORIGINAL UMD SOURCE →
UMD Smith School — Value Creation Challenge
UMD says the idea grew from conversations involving Greg Schaub, professor Oliver Schlake and the Center for Social Value Creation. The program has students work with an outside organization on a specific real-world business problem and develop solutions.
VIEW ORIGINAL UMD SOURCE →Greg Schaub — Value Creation Challenge Interview
“The idea was to create a class where students learn problem solving and critical thinking” and apply those skills to an outside organization.
“Here’s our problem... Help us solve it.”VIEW ORIGINAL INTERVIEW →
