“The Big Game” on Social Media
Before posting promotions for Super Bowl Sunday, know your legal limitations.
Whether you’re writing campaign messaging, creating promotional materials, posting on your brand’s social media accounts, or coordinating a giveaway, you’re being watched by the NFL’s legal team.
Cease-and-desist letters have been sent to big and small businesses, including churches who used trademarked phrases to promote their events, services, and products.
Why?
The NFL is one of the strictest enforcers of trademarked content. They want to prevent confusion among sponsors and advertisers and avoid the conception that something is associated with the league when it is not.
Here are the phrases trademarked by the NFL:
“Super Bowl”
“Super Sunday”
“NFL”, “National Football League”, “AFC”, “American Football Conference”, “NFC”, “National Football Conference”
“Gameday”
“Back to Football”
“1st & GOAL”
All organization and team names and logos. I would also be cautious posting colors.
I would also avoid using a specific player’s name and nicknames. Players routinely file trademark restrictions for their names and nicknames.
For the full list of trademarks made by the NFL visit the following links:
