The big game trademark

Brian McCarthy , the NFL's director of corporate communications, reiterated Wednesday that the targets were companies that engage in so-called ambush marketing of the Super Bowl by referring to it in their advertising as the Big Game. Stanford and Cal weren't taking any chances. They filed for extensions with the trademark office in order to prepare their objections. McCarthy said the applications were withdrawn because they were written more broadly "than the rights were looking to protect.

He said the league may refile them with language that specifically targets advertising that uses the phrase "the Big Game" to refer to the Super Bowl.

Maybe when we're scorned enough by the world, our representatives will actually allow for some reform so that we stop electing tyrants and start respecting human rights. Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here. Subscribe to the Techdirt Daily newsletter. Comment Options: Use markdown. Use plain text. Make this the First Word or Last Word. No thanks.

Become an Insider! This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it. Sign In Register Preferences. Mon, Jan 29th am — Timothy Geigner.

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in They've shown everyone worldwide how to abuse trademarks. Anonymous Coward , 29 Jan am. Ask the IOC. Anonymous Cowherd , 29 Jan pm. The IOC does that by extorting countries wanting to host the Olympics. It's their way or the highway. The NFL has no such leverage. What are they gonna do, move the Super Bowl to China? Anonymous Coward , 29 Jan pm. I'm already looking forward to the articles about the IOC's IP insanity that we'll be reading in a just few short weeks, with another quadrennial international sporting event that must not be named coming up.

It's regular as clockwork. Chris-Mouse profile , 29 Jan am. By claiming to have exclusive rights it doesn't have, the NFL gets to license those rights for big money. This trademark fraud is going to continue until someone is willing and able to take them to court and win. That would probably cost millions with no possibility of a payout, so don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.

However, we now gain examples of true wit such as Colbert's "Superb Owl" coverage. No one needs bankrupt themselves to force a sane resolution, when the mocking is so worthy of admiration.

Crack a beer, have some nachos, and laugh. Coyne Tibbets profile , 29 Jan am. You would think that the NFL would realize that this is a losing battle. Let's say they trademark "The Big Game" And that still won't be enough. I think the only solution would be a universal tax on language.

Say something, write something, and you must pay a fee to the NFL. Do you think they would be happy with that? So is anyone planning to go watch the bald raptors franchise compete in the largest pigskin game of the year? Not For Long! Coyne Tibbets profile , 29 Jan pm. So is anyone planning to go observe the hairless hunting bird franchise compete in the largest swineskin match of the year? Gyffes , 29 Jan am. Dark Helmet profile , 29 Jan am. Sam , 29 Jan am.

How long before they sue the homeless kitchen for their infringing use of the mark "Soup Bowl"? That's trademark dilution right there. Flakbait profile , 29 Jan am. As soon as the lawsuits for brain injuries start pouring in, the NFL is going to find itself out of money and on the wrong end of history.

Ignore it now and save yourselves the time. Toom profile , 29 Jan am. Are brain-damage those payouts for the players, or to those of its lawyers that support this trademark abuse? You will be notified in advance of any changes in rate or terms.

You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. Skip to Main Content Skip to Search. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. Dow Jones. By peter.