We’ve written previously about how the NFL cracks down on any unlicensed use of the word Superbowl, e.g., suing churches for having Superbowl parties. The way around being sued was to have a “Big Game Party,” but that won’t last for long as the NFL is obtaining a trademark on that too.
Goods and Services IC 016 posters, calendars, trading cards, series of non-fiction books relating to football; magazines relating to football, newsletters relating to football,notepads, stickers, bumper stickers, paper pennants; greeting cards; printed tickets to sports games and events; pens and pencils, note paper, wrapping paper, paper table cloths, paper napkins, printed paper party invitations, paper gift cards; paper party decorations, collectible cards; collectible card and memorabilia holders, souvenir programs for sports events
IC 028. toys and sporting goods, namely, plush toys, stuffed toy animals, play figures, golf balls, footballs, sport balls, toy banks, playing cards, Christmas tree ornaments
Standard Characters Claimed
Serial Number 78804122
Filing Date February 1, 2006
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition January 23, 2007
Owner (APPLICANT) NFL Properties LLC LTD LIAB CO DELAWARE 280 Park Avenue New York NEW YORK 10017
Attorney of Record Paula M. Guibault
Word Mark THE BIG GAME
I can only imagine how the lawyers at the NCAA feel about his since Ohio State-Michigan, Cal-Stanford, UCLA-USC and other yearly events are ALL dubbed “The Big Game.”
So if we can’t call it the Superbowl without getting sued. And if we can’t call it the Big Game…. what the frick do we call it? I know, how about the Overhyped-Advertising-Greedy-Bastard-Asshole-scumbag-dipshit Bowl? Would that make the NFL happy?
uM.. This could lead to problems with Robert Asprin’s M.Y.T.H. Directions, which is all about “The Big Game”.. and it focuses on how it’s marketed, a la: ,notepads, stickers, bumper stickers, paper pennants; greeting cards; printed tickets to sports games and events; pens and pencils, note paper, wrapping paper, paper table cloths, paper napkins, printed paper party invitations, paper gift cards; paper party decorations, collectible cards; collectible card and memorabilia holders, souvenir programs for sports events
J/P=?
I kind of like “Scum Bowl”
I like Johns idea, but it would be kinda hard to get all that on a banner.
In 1948 Random House published _The Big Game_, written by my father and cousin. It was about the Notre Dame-Army series. Both authors are dead, so I expect to be threatened in their stead by NFL lawyers–as soon as they catch up on their reading.
This whole thing will, of course, get nowhere. But what it does is show what creeps run the NFL. Hopefully posts like this will draw attention to that fact and people will stop the insanity and give up supporting the league.
College football is a much better game anyway.
#5, college sports may have been better when they were just another extracurricular activity for students, rather than the great money money machines that they are today… and before these bed-wetting snobs in the NCAA decided to start this crusade against any kind of team mascot or logo that feel might be offensive to some group or another.
I wonder how “Big Game” Torry Holt feels about this?
#5 – That would be the same sport that doesn’t crown undefeated teams as National Champions.
4, did they trademark the title? Copyright does not cover titles…
Why shouldn’t they trademark it?
And if you aren’t running a super bowl party for profit, you’ve got nothing to worry about. The church referenced in the post initially planned to charge admission, which is strictly against not only the NFL’s rules, but MLB, NHL, and NBA.
Getting in a huff about the NFL protecting their games and trademarks seems pretty stupid.
How about worrying about something that matters?
Just another example on how this nation recreational pastime is nothing but an excuse for more people to make money. The NFL protecting their little cash cow because they have the money already and they can hire lawyers to do their bidding to keep themselves rolling in their dough. Could that be considered an unfair market advantage?
No one and I mean nop one should be able to trademark a phrase made of words that have been in the dictionary since forever and a day. The word “the” swhould never ever be in a copywrighted phrase. I can see the NFL trademarking “Superbowl” as a single word. Since it is a word combination.
They should arrest the lawyers who trademarked this under the Rico Statutes. There needs to be some sorta agency or group of people who should be able to say “Hey wait a minute” that ruling was frigging stuipid! and appeal it on the grounds that it lacks all common sense.
Maybe I should trademark ” I get no Spam” and then sue Dvorak for all he is worth. But I consider myself a smart and good person who wouldn’t be a the kinda lawyer pimp that would do such a plain evil thing so i couldn’t do something like that.
Sometimes i think some of the Lawyers out there just sit around and think of things to do to keep themselves rolling in dough.
Being a lawyer it tantamount to being a racketteer in some cases, in this case I would say it would be correct.
#9…Brian….this does matter….there is so much abuse of copyright law by industry, sports and all the other groups that can afford their own blood suckers, that you can’t even have a charity event if you use the wrong wording. Thats wrong, period.
Copyrighting phrases and titles of any kind must be made illegal.
Sounds to me like the RIAA is running the NFL too…
And people look funny at me when I say we need to KILL all lawyers now so this kind of thing can’t be done!
9. “Why shouldn’t they trademark it?”
Well, first, it’s a merely descriptive term. It’d be like a tool company trademarking the name “Big Hammer.”
Second, the term is generic and already has uses outside the use desired by the NFL. People use the term the “big game” to apply to any number of games, e.g., hockey, basketball, etc. For example, Coke couldn’t come along and trademark the generic term “Soda.”
Lastly, there is no likelihood of confusion. For example, if a local church had a “big game” party for the Ohio/Michigan game, is anyone really going to confuse it with the Superbowl?!
People like you have absolutely no clue about IP, yet you feel a need to spout opinions about it. I’m not entirely sure why.
14-
Hmm so if I don’t adhere to your strict ideals, my opinion isn’t valid? Typical rhetoric from someone who spends a hell of a lot of time posting here, instead of actually doing something worthwhile to make a change in the world.
Look, if you aren’t hosting a party for profit, then you have NOTHING to worry about – this doesn’t affect you.
However, if you like to bitch and moan about things that don’t affect you, in an attempt to impress people on an internet site, then please, be my guest.
How many of you whiners even care about football? Perhaps you’d be better off with the ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ championship instead?
Hey Brian..SN IS A LAWYER… you are not.
what about virtual objects? aka “Second Life” or whatever – If i was to create a
“…posters, calendars, trading cards, series of non-fiction books relating to football; magazines relating to football, newsletters relating to football,notepads, stickers, bumper stickers, paper pennants; greeting cards; printed tickets to sports games and events; pens and pencils, note paper, wrapping paper, paper table cloths, paper napkins, printed paper party invitations, paper gift cards; paper party decorations, collectible cards; collectible card and memorabilia holders, souvenir programs for sports events…”
or whatever, then sell them or cut copy & paste for free, would the NFL be able to stop me? Mebbe its one of the “virtual” loopholes?
I also like John’s suggestion for an alternate title.
We get the entertainment we deserve ??
Brian – quit trolling and do something productive with your life… before I file a trademark application on the word “Brian” and force you to change your name, to illustrate – in a way even you could understand – why phrases as generic as “You’re Fired” should not be reserved for use by anyone.
Check
http://www.imdb.com/find?s=tt&q=the+big+game
there have been 6 visual entertainment titles called “The Big Game” and getting a trademark on what has become a generic term will take some doing.
I have never watched a Super Bowl and don’t ever intend to start doing so.
One more reason to switch to Soccer.
#15, Perhaps you’d be better off with the ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ championship instead?
ooooo, what an idea. I’m starting a league. Anyone interested in franchises, drop me a line. I’ll even let James Hill arrange the half time shows.
And our big game will be known as the Super Hand. The Trophy will be named after Steve Jobs. Winners will get the Super Hand Job Cup.
SN, could you start the copyright papers for us?
I wonder if the NFL trying to grab onto terms that have already escaped their legitimate grasp implies they really are in a class with the RIAA – at or past their peak and just trying to hold on by misusing the legal framework. Why else would the NFL perceive a church promotion (for profit, if the term applies to churches, or not) that promotes their own Big Moneymaking Deal as a threat? What about the innumerable small sports bars that have Superbowl Parties?
Like the RIAA attacking its own best customers, I just don’t see how this can be seen as anything but shooting themselves in the foot.
Fuck the NFL..It’s run by greedy bastards. I’ve been to the Big Game between Stanford and Cal – which has been played for more than 100 years. If anybody should be able to use it, it should be those two schools. Even better yet, just get rid of the Superbowl. It’s boring and overrated anyway.
Well, now Red Hat is issuing cease and desist orders for companies that use the word “Hibernate” in their list of services, especially training. This debate rages anew.
Good site. Thank you!