Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:11 am Posts: 6822 Location: College Station, TX, USA Gender: Male
Quote:
The following statement by Steven B. Moore, chief marketing officer and vice president for communications at Texas A&M University, is intended to inform the Texas A&M community regarding the university’s stance in taking legal steps to prohibit the Seattle Seahawks from using Texas A&M’s 12th Man trademark:
To Faculty, Students and Staff:
As a member of the Aggie family, we want you to be as fully informed as possible of the university’s position—and motivation—in taking legal action against the Seattle Seahawks’ infringement upon the University’s 12th Man trademark. Simply put, we believe we have no choice but to protect and defend in every way possible, including legal action, all of our trademarks—and none is more crucial than that of the 12th Man because of all it means to Aggies, those currently enrolled and to more than 275,000 former students. We are not driven in this matter by concerns about any lost revenue in the licensing process; it is simply a matter of principle—ensuring that nothing infringes on the 12th Man concept and its Texas A&M uniqueness.
It is hard for non-Aggies—and the media—to understand the depth of what the 12th Man means to Texas A&M, and, as a result, the institution is receiving some less-than-desirable attention in some quarters—certainly including the Seattle area. We certainly regret that this matter could take away from some of Seattle fans’ focus at this particular time but, and especially considering Sunday’s Super Bowl game and all the surrounding media attention, we must take definitive action at this time to protect our trademark. The timing could have been avoided if the Seattle Seahawks management had responded to our original requests— as did the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and other teams in earlier such situations.
As a means of explaining the institution’s position, we issued the following message to various media outlets Monday night in the hope of clarifying our concerns and giving a status report. We thought it might be beneficial for you to see exactly what was said:
“Texas A&M University certainly has no ill will towards the Seattle Seahawks; in fact we have Aggies on the team and coaching staff and we congratulate them on their splendid season leading up to Sunday’s Super Bowl. However, we have the responsibility and legal obligation to protect the university’s trademarks, which in this instance is the 12th Man. The 12th Man is one of our most treasured traditions, recognized by most as one of the most compelling in collegiate athletics. We have asked the Seahawks’ management to cease and desist promoting use of the 12th Man trademark. Such letters were submitted in 2004 and 2005 requesting their compliance, but our requests have not been honored. Therefore, we have no other recourse but to take formal legal action, which we initiated today in the 85th District Court of Brazos County. A temporary restraining order that restricts the Seattle Seahawks from usage of the 12th Man trademark was filed today.
“Texas A&M has done everything in its power over the last 2 years to bring quiet closure to this situation. Our hope is that the Seahawks’ organization will recognize our federal trademark.â€
Be assured we will keep you informed of any significant new developments.
Gig ‘em
(signed) Steven B. Moore Chief Marketing Officer Vice President for Communications
cc: AFS 12th Man Alan Cannon
This is retarded, but as we learned during last year's McDonald's fiasco in relation to student body elections, if you do not make attempts to protect your registered trademarks, you can and will lose them.
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:43 am Posts: 18418 Location: Anytown, USA Gender: Male
i thought every home team had the "12th man"
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Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:55 am Posts: 4213 Location: Austin TX Gender: Male
ManiacalClown wrote:
likeatab wrote:
why in the hell are the ags crying about this now? as i understand it, seattle has been doing this since the mid 80s.
they really come off looking like huge whiners in this whole deal.
Well, we've been doing it since 1922.
that's not the point. the point is why in the hell is aTm bitching about this now when the seahawks have been doing it for 20+ years? why did they wait until the spotlight of the super bowl was shining on the whole deal to complain so publicly? if it was aimed at generating some publicity, i'd say it's backfiring in the sense that most people think y'all look like big babies. but then again negative news for the ags isn't exactly anything new so maybe the aggie powers that be wanted to continue the streak.
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Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:11 am Posts: 6822 Location: College Station, TX, USA Gender: Male
likeatab wrote:
ManiacalClown wrote:
likeatab wrote:
why in the hell are the ags crying about this now? as i understand it, seattle has been doing this since the mid 80s.
they really come off looking like huge whiners in this whole deal.
Well, we've been doing it since 1922.
that's not the point. the point is why in the hell is aTm bitching about this now when the seahawks have been doing it for 20+ years? why did they wait until the spotlight of the super bowl was shining on the whole deal to complain so publicly? if it was aimed at generating some publicity, i'd say it's backfiring in the sense that most people think y'all look like big babies. but then again negative news for the ags isn't exactly anything new so maybe the aggie powers that be wanted to continue the streak.
It's to keep it from being plastered all over the TV duing the Super Bowl, pretty much.
In January 1922, Texas A&M was playing Centre College. The Aggies had limited reserves on their squad and several players were hurt. A&M coach Dana X. Bible, looking for much-needed players remembered a student by the name of E. King Gill, a former football player turned gymnast who was helping reporters identify players in the press box. Gill was asked to be available for the game, suited up and stood on the sideline ready to go in at a moment's notice although he never played in the game. As the game ended, which the Aggies won, Gill was the only remaining man on the sidelines. The students of Texas A&M have ever since been known as the original 12th Man.
Quote:
The "12th man" term has been used by various American football teams including the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, and the Chicago Bears. The Buffalo Bills and the Chicago Bears no longer use the term "12th man" at the request of Texas A&M. The Seattle Seahawks continue to use the phrase.
Since the early 80's Seahawks fans have often refered to themselves as the "12th man" and as a tribute to their fans the Seahawks retired the number 12 in 1984. This means no player on the team can wear the number 12 on their jersey. Since then #12 Jerseys have been sold by the team and worn by Seahawk fans, often with the name "Fan" on the back. The Seahawks also have a ceremony before each home game where a flag bearing the #12 is raised by a prominent individual.
In 1990 Texas A&M University trademarked the phrase and have asked the Seattle Seahawks to cease and desist the use of the term "12th Man" at least twice, once in 2004 and again in 2005. In 1994 Texas A&M expanded the scope of the trademark. In January, 2006, Texas A&M University issued a cease and desist order to the Seattle Seahawks, demanding that they cease these activities. On January 30th they filed a restraining in Texas asking the Seahawks to stop "using, selling, offering for sale, disseminating, distributing, delivering, circulating, issuing, marketing, displaying, promoting or advertising any products goods or services" that use "12th Man" or "12th Mania." On February 1, 2006, the District Judge in Brazos County Texas is set to hear the case.
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Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:52 pm Posts: 6822 Location: NY Gender: Male
I don't disagree that A&M coined the phrase and should be proud of the tradition. I just think it's petty to have to trademark and file lawsuits. Get over yourself. It's a game.
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:06 am Posts: 2402 Location: Freedonia
Seattle has been doing the 12th man thing since at least 1984, A & M didn't trademark it until 1990 and didn't complain until 2006. They don't have a leg to stand on. Bitches.
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