millbank Posted February 25, 2007 Share Posted February 25, 2007 NFL to tighten the Screws The NFL has trademark for "The Super Bowl, not with businesses using the term "The Big Game", the NFL wishes to have this Trade Mark as well...... As most people know, the NFL doesn't want you to use the word "Superbowl" when hosting a party, sale, event, etc, and they aggressively enforce their trademark on this term. In response, since all the country does in fact have parties, sales, events, etc. associated with the Superbowl, folks have adopted the euphemism 'the big game" in their communications. I observed that this not only pointed out some of the silliness in our intellectual property laws, but also was counter-productive for the NFL -- shouldn't they want people talking about and holding events for the Superbowl? I suggested a simple licensing program that would raise a little money and probably work better for everyone: The NFL needs to offer a one time use license each year for a bar or other establishment to hold a Superbowl party and actually use Superbowl in the promotion. The license would of course be non-exclusive, and would carry a myriad of restrictions on how you use the name, etc. The license could be purchased for a price that would be cheap for a business, maybe $200, and could be purchased right over the web. It would actually be easier, I think, to go after violators because the NFL could point to the existence of a legal licensing program the violator could easily have participated in. I would think they could easily bring in a couple of million dollars, not to mention saving them enforcement money and PR headaches. The NFL has decided to go in a different direction. It is trying to trademark the term "the big game" so that term can't be used either (HT Overlawyered). I particularly liked this from the application: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 As any Stanford or Cal fan could tell you, "The Big Game" is already taken... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 I think this trademark is too descriptive anyway and will be rejected by the trademark office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oneonta Buffalo Fan Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 As any Stanford or Cal fan could tell you, "The Big Game" is already taken... Well that's for college football, not the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Well that's for college football, not the NFL. Texas A+M trademarked "12th Man", and sued the Seattle Seahawks for using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oneonta Buffalo Fan Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Texas A+M trademarked "12th Man", and sued the Seattle Seahawks for using it. I didn't know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACor58 Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 What a bunch of @ Holes, but typical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 As any Stanford or Cal fan could tell you, "The Big Game" is already taken... Surprised that Torry Holt didn't beat them to it. wiki linki No question though. The Big Game is Stanford/Cal. Joe Starkey's one shining moment. Starkey linky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Surprised that Torry Holt didn't beat them to it. wiki linki No question though. The Big Game is Stanford/Cal. Joe Starkey's one shining moment. Starkey linky Starkey is the play-by-play man for the 49 ers on the radio and has been for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Starkey is the play-by-play man for the 49 ers on the radio and has been for years. I know, used to live out that way. He's pretty terrible, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 It seems with every passing day I grow to hate the NFL more and more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 It seems with every passing day I grow to hate the NFL more and more... Me too. NFL Network broadcasting college bowl games, the tv screen size flap, their extortions and threats that result in free stadiums, their wanting all tv cable customers to pay an extra fee regardless if most subscribers don't give a flying F about NFL football, changing traditional uniforms to cash in on trinket sales, demanding King Midas prices for cheesy food and drink, kicking out local video coverage of game action, trying to patent the English language, etc. etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 It seems with every passing day I grow to hate the NFL more and more... Kemo Sabe, you shouldn't hate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjeff215 Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 It seems with every passing day I grow to hate the NFL more and more... You said it. The business practices of the league are really hurting my enjoyment of the game. Rivalries seem manufactured with the free agency, games are commercial after commercial, and I have to pay to listen to crappy streaming audio or I can pony up the $300 a year to watch games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 You said it. The business practices of the league are really hurting my enjoyment of the game. Rivalries seem manufactured with the free agency, games are commercial after commercial, and I have to pay to listen to crappy streaming audio or I can pony up the $300 a year to watch games. couple that with the taxpayer money going to stadiums, the monstrosity that Dallas is building, players like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry... It's just getting so unappealing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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