Q: What are the rules when using terms like “Super Bowl,” “Super Sunday,” and NFL team names, logos and players in ads?
* NOTE: This advice applies to commercial uses like advertising and marketing; it does not apply to news coverage.
A: The terms “Super Bowl,” “Super Sunday,” as well as NFL team names and logos, are federally registered trademarks, and advertisers cannot use them without permission from the trademark holder. Similarly, individual players typically own the right to commercial use of their name, image, likeness and other intellectual property, and commercial use of these rights requires permission.
A trademark is a word, symbol, design, phrase, or combination thereof that identifies and distinguishes the source of products or services provided. Trademark law establishes and vests the exclusive rights to use such marks in the trademark owner. The law is designed to protect the public from confusion and deception, as well as to provide the trademark owner with a unique way of marketing itself.
The NFL owns the trademark to many phrases related to professional football including “Super Bowl” and “Super Sunday.” The NFL also owns the rights to NFL logos, as well as the Superbowl crest. Individual teams generally hold the trademarks for team names and logos. The NFL aggressively defends its trademarks and has brought actions against businesses for using NFL trademarks without permission. In order to obtain permission to use an NFL trademark for commercial purposes, media organizations should contact the NFL and review its licensing requirements.
Similarly, individual NFL players hold the rights to commercial use of their name, image, likeness, voice, and other intellectual property (NIL rights) that can be enforced through trademark and other relevant law, and advertisers can not use these property rights without permission. Many NFL players are members of NFLPA, the players union which, among other things, negotiates and administers player NIL licensing agreements.
If a trademark is not owned by an advertiser or the advertiser has not gotten permission to use the trademark, the trademark owner can sue for an injunction against future printing. The newspaper is not liable for damages unless it published the advertisement knowing that it would cause confusion or deceive purchasers. If the newspaper runs the ad with knowledge of a conflicting claim of trademark ownership, the paper is not only subject to an injunction against future printing but may face liability for damages.
Advertisers can use nonprotected phrases like “The Big Game” or “The Big Game in New Orleans” and similar phrases to promote events and products. Likewise, advertisers can refer to teams by geographic location such as “Good luck Philadelphia!” or “Win it all Washington!” or similar well wishes for Kansas City, Buffalo or geographic regions associated with teams. Team colors can be featured in ads as well as phrases like “We’re going Green for the Big Game!”
As always, this is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal advice. Please contact your news organization’s private attorney or the PNA Legal Hotline at (717) 703-3080 with questions or for pre-publication review.