keggerz Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 If it is true that Seattle has been using the phrase publically since the 70's, it's entirely possible that A&M could lose the trademark. A trademark is only a trademark if you keep it as such. 1289857[/snapback] good info here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightsOfKnee Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 It's used as part of their marketing. I think that it's kind of silly, but I wouldn't be surprised if A&M pursued them aggressively. They take stuff like that very seriously (hence the trademark). And, as I said before, they've already stopped the Bears (and one other team that I can't recall) from using it. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. 1289806[/snapback] I'm sure they will pursue aggressively, what the hell else are they gonna do? ROTC marches and the Dixie Chicken get old after awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJoTheWebToedBoy Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Or Paul Allen can buy them off. Several Million times over. 1289809[/snapback] Latest rumor out of Redmond WA, Windows Vista will come with an A&M Sucks Desktop Wallpaper..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forever in debt to mo lewis Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 pat riley has 3 peat copywritten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooGie Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Could be argued that the 12th man is a common saying, and part of popular culture. Systematic misuse of a trademark can result in the term becoming generic. Words such as "aspirin," "cellophane," and "elevator" slipped into the public domain because of improper usage. Xerox narrowly avoided this in the late 70's by a massive marketing campaign to get the general population to call the items thier machines produced "photocopies" instead of "xeroxes". 1289819[/snapback] Good info here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moss6 Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 12th Man Towel Hey Bill - Lorne Michaels called about your name, something about cease & desist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 12th Man Towel Hey Bill - Lorne Michaels called about your name, something about cease & desist 1290179[/snapback] Waving a towel during the game............. where have I seen that done before ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted January 26, 2006 Author Share Posted January 26, 2006 Hey Bill - Lorne Michaels called about your name, something about cease & desist 1290179[/snapback] I didn't realize that I was making money off of my username! Where's my check?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziachild007 Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Yes, the slogan, but the meaning of it is different. A&M's 12th man. 1289780[/snapback] How so? The entire student body at A&M is the Twelfth Man, and they stand during the entire game to show their support. The 12th Man is always in the stands waiting to be called upon if they are needed FWIW, one of my best friends was the 12th man during one season. He went on to share some time at LB and played beside Dat Ngyuen (sp). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Itals Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 First, from an IP attorney's perspective, there is a difference between copyright and trademark. Copyright is affixed to an authors creative work (i.e., a book, song, etc.). Short phrases such as "threepeat" and 12th Man" are not sufficient to qualify for a copyright. They may, however, qualify for a trademark if they are used to designate or differentiate products or services that are used in commerce. I think it would be very hard for Texas A&M to enforce a trademark on the term "12th Man", especially if it can be shown that a user, such as the Seahawks, had used it in commerce (i.e., sold T-Shirts with the slogan) before them. When a user registers a trademark, like A&M seeemingly has done, it does not preclude previous users from using the same term, it merely freezes that other users' rights to its use in the marks current geographical market. Since the Seahawks are nationally known, and have a national market, it maybe shown that the term "12th Man" was already nationally used by the Hawks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonehand Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 12th Man Towel Hey Bill - Lorne Michaels called about your name, something about cease & desist 1290179[/snapback] $46 BUCKS???? That was the free giveaway at the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czarina Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 I'd be surprised if A&M could do this. Doesn't every team in every city do this? This isn't anything new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagles Fan Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Does'nt Rich stadium in Buffalo have "12th man" displayed inside the stadium? 1289810[/snapback] Yes, "The 12th Man" is on the Bill's Wall of Fame. Link http://www.buffalobills.com/history/WallofFame.jsp But hey, so is O. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theprofessor Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Sorry if this has been posted already. Heard on the radio this morning that Texas A&M has asked the Seahawks to stop using A&M's copyrighted "12th Man" slogan. No word yet on whether or not the Seahawks are going to comply. 1289725[/snapback] If the A&M fans had ever visited Qwest Field they would know that only 1 group of fans deserved to have their number retired! Go Seahawks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moss6 Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 $46 BUCKS???? That was the free giveaway at the game. 1290728[/snapback] Yes, but it comes with actual CONFETTI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonehand Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Yes, but it comes with actual CONFETTI 1290832[/snapback] Yeah, I've got a handful of that too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myhousekey Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 http://finance.tamu.edu/licensing/tamu_trademarks.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retrograde assault Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Friggin aggies, their 12th man needs to get back to building bonfires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shick! Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I don't have proof, but I'm fairly confident that the 12th man slogan wasn't used in Seattle until 1984 (after they played in the AFC title game in 83). Seattle entered the 84 season with tremendous hype. They managed a 12-4 season even though they lost Curt Warner in the opener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcat2334 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Not too sure on the legality of trademarks and sports, but it seems trivial to me. The previous post spells it out pretty well. I don't see this ever going anywhere- I don't see Paul Allen and his deep pockets/legal team going anywhere. Texas A&M- don't mess with Paul Allen. Maybe they should go after the Washington Sate Cougars- who use the term "cow tipping" quite regularily- Doesn's A&M have that copyrighted and trademarked as welL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I'd be surprised if A&M could do this. Doesn't every team in every city do this? This isn't anything new. 1290783[/snapback] No it isn't and registering a trademark doesn't make it legal. I would bet the first person to contest this would win. Does the NFL have "the huddle" trademarked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted January 30, 2006 Author Share Posted January 30, 2006 Texas A&M- don't mess with Paul Allen. 1295074[/snapback] Paul Allen - don't mess with the Bush family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Paul Allen - don't mess with the Bush family. 1295696[/snapback] The Bush family is behind this? Or the Bush family is behind A&M? I am sure the alumni of A&M know that the school has better things to do with their money than persue a 5 or 6 year court case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted January 30, 2006 Author Share Posted January 30, 2006 The Bush family is behind this? Or the Bush family is behind A&M? 1295716[/snapback] The Bush family is very much behind A&M. It's the home of the Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The family gravesite is also on university property. I don't think that the Bush family cares much about this incident, but I was just sick of hearing the "don't mess with Paul Allen" crap. Paul Allen is nothing compared to the Bushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcat2334 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Paul Allen - don't mess with the Bush family. 1295696[/snapback] This isn't going anywhere- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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