Nfl Out Of Bounds

Mutt · 01-23-2003

How does the NFL get away with stopping everybody from using the term 'Super Bowl'? I believe in companies having the right to protect their trademarks but the NFL really are out of line. If you notice there are all sorts of companies with Super Bowl promotions but they aren't allowed to call the 'Super Bowl' by name, they have to refer to it as 'The Big Game' - i.e. Win Tickets to THE BIG GAME IN SAN DIEGO!
I was just listening to Howard Stern and he had to tell his produce to stop referring to it as the Super Bowl. I just don't get it, I know I can't print up T-shirts with the words SUPER BOWL on it to sell but tickets to the Super Bowl should be different - i go to the expense of spending 5 grand on tickets I should be able to advertise I'm having a giveaway at my car dealership with tickets to the SUPER BOWL as a prize. That's what the prize is, just like if i bought a Ferrari to give away I'd advertise FERRARI GIVEAWAY!

I'm surprised somebody hasn't sued the NFL. In the case of Playboy vs Terri Welles the judge decided that she could use the trademark 'Playmate of the Year' because she was one and that phrase describes her, she has a right to use it in a limited way. So I don't see 'Super Bowl' being much different, too bad for the NFL, I'm giving away tickets in a contest and the game tickets are for the game called the 'Super Bowl', it says so right on the tickets. I know the NFL's position is that they have sponsors who pay huge amounts of money to be tied into the Super Bowl and they're protecting that part of their business but it's way heavy handed.

Now back to Chip with Weather on the 10's!

01-23-2003	#1
Mutt Members Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,087	How does the NFL get away with stopping everybody from using the term 'Super Bowl'? I believe in companies having the right to protect their trademarks but the NFL really are out of line. If you notice there are all sorts of companies with Super Bowl promotions but they aren't allowed to call the 'Super Bowl' by name, they have to refer to it as 'The Big Game' - i.e. Win Tickets to THE BIG GAME IN SAN DIEGO! I was just listening to Howard Stern and he had to tell his produce to stop referring to it as the Super Bowl. I just don't get it, I know I can't print up T-shirts with the words SUPER BOWL on it to sell but tickets to the Super Bowl should be different - i go to the expense of spending 5 grand on tickets I should be able to advertise I'm having a giveaway at my car dealership with tickets to the SUPER BOWL as a prize. That's what the prize is, just like if i bought a Ferrari to give away I'd advertise FERRARI GIVEAWAY! I'm surprised somebody hasn't sued the NFL. In the case of Playboy vs Terri Welles the judge decided that she could use the trademark 'Playmate of the Year' because she was one and that phrase describes her, she has a right to use it in a limited way. So I don't see 'Super Bowl' being much different, too bad for the NFL, I'm giving away tickets in a contest and the game tickets are for the game called the 'Super Bowl', it says so right on the tickets. I know the NFL's position is that they have sponsors who pay huge amounts of money to be tied into the Super Bowl and they're protecting that part of their business but it's way heavy handed. Now back to Chip with Weather on the 10's!