Don't call it the Super Bowl

[53NewYorker]

http://www.hollywoodreporteresq.com/thresq/ip/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003538980&imw=Y

NEW YORK -- As nearly all Americans know, Super Bowl XLI will be played Sunday in Miami. But you don't hear the words "Super Bowl" or many references to the NFL's trademarked terms on radio, television, in print or on the Internet beyond what officially is licensed by the league. That's because football's most effective offense isn't a product of Peyton Manning's arm, but rather the NFL's squad of in-house lawyers who are particularly aggressive -- some say overly aggressive -- in enforcing its intellectual property rights.

Working from a modern Park Avenue headquarters, an eight-person department of trademark and copyright specialists monitors everything from local radio programs to telephone-poll advertisements, looking for mentions of off-limits words or images. This proactive strategy also includes sending out thousands of "reminder" letters each year to global advertising giants and communities where the game is played, setting out what can and can't be said in promotional materials.

Sometimes a reminder isn't enough. Each season, the NFL mails between 100 and 150 cease-and-desist letters, demanding that trademarks like "Super Bowl" or team names not be used in any commercial context.


So, Aaron, be prepared for a cease and desist letter from the league regarding the title of this thread and remind them what 'fair use' means. :O

[wilebill]

Lawyers. Can't live without 'em. Can't kill 'em.

[kevin]

I hear the Stadium is having it's named changed to "THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE."

[53NewYorker]

WARNING: Now all you folks hosting a party for 'the big game' risk being shut down by the No Fun League. http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/NEWS01/702020453/1008

Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis this week received an overnight letter from NFL attorneys that claimed a "Super Bowl Bash" they saw advertised on the church's Web site violates copyright laws. Pastor John Newland responded with a letter of apology to the NFL, and said the church would cancel plans to show the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears at 6:25 p.m. Sunday on CBS.

...
"How absurd!" he said of the NFL's stance. "... Maybe churches should get a copyright on the NFL's use of such terms as 'Sunday,' 'Saints' and 'Hail Mary Pass.' Every time a player points heavenward, goes down on one knee, or shows the sign of the cross after a touchdown, maybe the cheerleaders should pass the offering plate.

"Let's charge the NFL for hyping the personal faith of the respective head coaches for the Bears and Colts. Perhaps we should be reimbursed for the loss of income that churches sustain from members who attend Super Bowl activities."

The NFL, though, isn't laughing. At first, the NFL objected to Fall Creek's plans to charge a fee to attend the party and its use of the licensed words "Super Bowl" in its promotions. After the church agreed to charge no fee and rename the party, the NFL voiced a copyright objection.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Indianapolis Star the league has a longtime policy of banning "mass out-of-home viewing" of the Super Bowl. He said the copyright law limits public showings to televisions smaller than 55 inches.


So have fun at your 'mass out of home viewing' of 'the big game' this weekend.

[53NewYorker]

A sad epilogue to this story. Now the No Fun League (trademark applied for) wants to make sure you can't even call it the Big Game (http://www.schwimmerlegal.com/2007/02/the_thing_on_tv.html) anymore. This has gone too far...

[aaron]

Sometimes a reminder isn't enough. Each season, the NFL mails between 100 and 150 cease-and-desist letters, demanding that trademarks like "Super Bowl" or team names not be used in any commercial context.


There's your key phrase. Since I don't have any ads or make any revenue from any page that contains the term Super Bowl, I'll be in the clear. Sure, they could still send me a ceast and desist, but since I'm not making any money from it, I'm way down the totem pole.

I say this because for a few weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, you could search for "Super Bowl Countdown" and get Queen Mother's thread here as the second result.

[just-Wynn]

Lawyers. Can't live without 'em. Can't kill 'em You can try though. Just make sure you make it to the range a few times first.

http://thatvideosite.com/video/2741

[opengl_programmer]

There's your key phrase. Since I don't have any ads or make any revenue from any page that contains the term Super Bowl, I'll be in the clear. Sure, they could still send me a ceast and desist, but since I'm not making any money from it, I'm way down the totem pole.

I say this because for a few weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, you could search for "Super Bowl Countdown" and get Queen Mother's thread here as the second result.
[/color][/size][/font]


yeah but Fall Creek Baptist Church was making revenue or profit either. they were just charging people money to pay for the food and the snacks. the church wasnt making a dime. so what was the problem there?

as you can see it wasnt a problem because many churches went ahead and had their SUPER BOWL party even with the cease and desist letter that they had gotten. those particular churches called the NFL's bluff and the NFL did nothing. this means that the tactical way of the NFL dealing with this is just to scare people. they knew that in court they wouldnt have a leg to stand on if they lost the case. i mean the world would be over if someone might be confused about the term SUPER BOWL. If the NFL were to win the case they would receive 10 fold the backlash they already received from this fall creek debacle and NFL's ratings are already down.

i know what would solve this crap. have as many people possible do something else on super bowl sunday and turn the tv off. the nfl would get the picture that the media and advertisers are not in control. the people are. i havent watched the SUPER BOWL in years and dont plan on watching the SUPER BOWL and dont care who wins the SUPER BOWL either.

[Fish-Bait]

"SUPER BOLE"....hell I turned it off in the 3rd quarter. I would much rather watch college football but the NCAA admin. is in a league of its own anyways...its all about politics and money all we needed is to throw churches and religion in and well, looks like that just happened..this is so sad....