12th Man Fiasco

[Favpack]

Who's correct on this one? The Seattle Seahawks and Texas A&M Aggies both use the "12th Man" tradition - though A&M's goes way back to 1922.

A&M says they must protect their 12th man trademark, a trademark they received in 1990 and again in 1996 (different rule I guess) - AFTER the Seattle Seahawks retired their jersey no. 12 in the late-1980's. Seattle has great fan support and they hang the no. 12 from their stadium rafters.

Should A&M protect the 12th man trademark? Most trademark attorneys would say - YES - protect at all costs. Most non-maroon fans will probably rip A&M for doing so. Kind of a no win situation really.

[DragonBand06]

Who's correct on this one? The Seattle Seahawks and Texas A&M Aggies both use the "12th Man" tradition - though A&M's goes way back to 1922.

A&M says they must protect their 12th man trademark, a trademark they received in 1990 and again in 1996 (different rule I guess) - AFTER the Seattle Seahawks retired their jersey no. 12 in the late-1980's. Seattle has great fan support and they hang the no. 12 from their stadium rafters.

Should A&M protect the 12th man trademark? Most trademark attorneys would say - YES - protect at all costs. Most non-maroon fans will probably rip A&M for doing so. Kind of a no win situation really.
Well, you should already know what I have to say on this one, but I'd say that since A&M has a trademark on it, Seattle should stop. Both Chicago and Denver had their own 12th man thing going for a short time, but once A&M contacted them, they both stopped. Why does Seattle refuse to do so? I don't know, but you can guess who I'll be rooting for on Sunday! :)

[dragons08]

i think it gives the fans a motive be loud..like they have to keep that 12th man thing (seahawks' fans) ya know? im not to sure

[Miss Kitty]

They (seabirds) need to give it up. It is an Aggie thing and should remain so. If they can't find something original, let them use the damn tomahawk chop. LOL You can't really blame them for wanting to steal something from Texas but doesn't mean they should be allowed to.

[dragons08]

we should name them "Dragons08" the loudest and coolest people..there..its trademarked by me..but i'll let them rent the name :D

[wide-e-wide]

In a related story...

aggy has filed suit against "LaughingStocks"
A Seattle-based comedy club...
Citing that they are in fact the original laughingstocks of planet Earth.

Seems aggy is on a roll...

No word yet...if they are going to follow through with a suit against
sheeplovers.com.

[mtbray]

In a related story...

aggy has filed suit against "LaughingStocks"
A Seattle-based comedy club...
Citing that they are in fact the original laughingstocks of planet Earth.

Seems aggy is on a roll...

No word yet...if they are going to follow through with a suit against
sheeplovers.com.


Wide, you're amazing.



I personally say F it, unless any companies owned by the Seattle Seahawks are directly profiting from the term "12th Man;" i.e. Clothing and Merchandise. Seattle shouldn't be able to do that, but I don't see the problem with them using the term to hype up their crowd.

For one, it's not another NCAA team, so it's not gonna hurt M&A in that sense. For two, it's on the other side of the United States from M&A, so it's not like it's gonna hurt the University of M&A in terms of publicity, sales, etc.

[DragonBand06]

Wide, you're amazing.



I personally say F it, unless any companies owned by the Seattle Seahawks are directly profiting from the term "12th Man;" i.e. Clothing and Merchandise. Seattle shouldn't be able to do that, but I don't see the problem with them using the term to hype up their crowd.

For one, it's not another NCAA team, so it's not gonna hurt M&A in that sense. For two, it's on the other side of the United States from M&A, so it's not like it's gonna hurt the University of M&A in terms of publicity, sales, etc.
The main reason they are doing it is due to the use of the term in marketing advertisements and use on products.

[DragonBand06]

This is a link to an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. (http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/13736706.htm)

[Reaganrattler07]

A&M has the trademarks to it, it's theirs.

[Primetime536]

In a related story...

aggy has filed suit against "LaughingStocks"
A Seattle-based comedy club...
Citing that they are in fact the original laughingstocks of planet Earth.

Seems aggy is on a roll...

No word yet...if they are going to follow through with a suit against
sheeplovers.com.

just like i said in another thread.

Is everyone really tripping over aTm being upset about the Seahawks taking the 12th man? UT fans are really pathetic. Why wouldnt aTm be upset, the 12th man is like their thing. Thats like the buffalo taking hook em horns. What do you think UT would do about that? Same damn thing. All you UT people, please stop talking about aTm, and for the love of god stop saying aggy. Its getting pathetic on this board. Get creative, think of a new punch line to diss aTm, just stop saying aggy. Oh, and one more thing, UT fans please stop talking about UTs lack of respect its also getting rediculous. Every damn day its the same thing, UT fans using the same sarcasm over and over again, come on. "Vince Young throws side arm and cant throw","VTech will win the National championship","Reggie Bush is overrated","Mack Brown cant win the big game", Give the **** a break,,,,,,please, we all know UT is good and we all know VY is good. Enjoy the national championship and shut the hell up.

Not directed toward anyone in this thread, i took this from another thread.

[wide-e-wide]

Thats like the buffalo taking hook em horns. What do you think UT would do about that? Same damn thing.

That would never happen.
If it did...the team that started using it would immediately be ridiculed and exposed for being unorginal morons.

Nobody even noticed Seattle doing it...until aggy spoke up.
That right there says a whole lot.

How bad do you have to suck when another team can "steal" or "borrow" your trademark..............and you are the only one that notices?

It's not like Seattle just started this whole thing last week...they have been doing it a while...

All you UT people, please stop talking about aTm, and for the love of god stop saying aggy. Its getting pathetic on this board. Get creative, think of a new punch line to diss aTm, just stop saying aggy

Better get used to it bro...we were here long before you were....and will probably be here long after...
As long as I'm here.....they are aggy.
Can I get a witness?

Not directed toward anyone in this thread, i took this from another thread.

Typical coward....why not say it's directed at me? No balls?
We (meaning UT fans) listened to the hype surrounding USC for damn near
a year...............well it's gonna be a loooooong off-season for the haters.
Because it's our turn.....and we ain't shuttin' up baby.

[Reaganrattler07]

That would never happen.
If it did...the team that started using it would immediately be ridiculed and exposed for being unorginal morons.

Nobody even noticed Seattle doing it...until aggy spoke up.
That right there says a whole lot.

How bad do you have to suck when another team can "steal" or "borrow" your trademark..............and you are the only one that notices?

It's not like Seattle just started this whole thing last week...they have been doing it a while...



Better get used to it bro...we were here long before you were....and will probably be here long after...
As long as I'm here.....they are aggy.
Can I get a witness?



Typical coward....why not say it's directed at me? No balls?
We (meaning UT fans) listened to the hype surrounding USC for damn near
a year...............well it's gonna be a loooooong off-season for the haters.
Because it's our turn.....and we ain't shuttin' up baby.

So much for winning with class. And I really don't think it is directed towards you anyway.

[jtk1519]

This is seriously one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed in my life. If it wasn't aggy, I just could not believe it.

Several things here, it has been documented and confirmed that the "12th man" term was used in regards to Seahawks fans more than 5 years before aggy secured the trademark.

Second, and biggest of them all, the Seahawks organization is in little if any trouble because they are guilty of nothing. The "12th man" term is one used by the fans and media in Seattle, the Organization has done very little associated with the actual trademarked phrase. They may have sold some shirts with that term, but it's no big deal for them to end that. A supplier not affiliated with the organization can make the shirts and deal with it themselves. Bottom line is that the Seahawks organization retired the jersey #12... in no way a violation. They have a flag with the #12 raised at the stadium... in no way a violation.

The funny thing is that this has been happening for years and aggy has managed to keep their pants dry because they are too stupid to know what's going on. The reality is that the stink really didn't occur until the NFC title game when Joe Buck on Fox used the term "12th man" at least 1,000 times on air. This is when aggy really started to get wind of things. Mind you, it was Joe Buck that said that and not the Seattle organization, and there in lies the reason why the Seattle Seahawks have to be laughing at this stupidity. The times they actually use the term "12th man" are few and far between. They use the #12 a lot and #12 jerseys, but that's it.

If anybody is guilty of anything, it is the Seattle media who labeled the fans this in the first place and then the Seattle fans who took on the label "12th man" for themselves. aggy is gonna have to sue half the city of Seattle, but right now they are pissed at the wrong people. Paul Allen has to be laughing about as hard as I am right now. If I were him and had his money, I would by the "12th man" trademark just so aggy couldn’t use it. How funny would that be. :D

[garlandowl08]

This is seriously one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed in my life. If it wasn't aggy, I just could not believe it.

Several things here, it has been documented and confirmed that the "12th man" term was used in regards to Seahawks fans more than 5 years before aggy secured the trademark.

Second, and biggest of them all, the Seahawks organization is in little if any trouble because they are guilty of nothing. The "12th man" term is one used by the fans and media in Seattle, the Organization has done very little associated with the actual trademarked phrase. They may have sold some shirts with that term, but it's no big deal for them to end that. A supplier not affiliated with the organization can make the shirts and deal with it themselves. Bottom line is that the Seahawks organization retired the jersey #12... in no way a violation. They have a flag with the #12 raised at the stadium... in no way a violation.

The funny thing is that this has been happening for years and aggy has managed to keep their pants dry because they are too stupid to know what's going on. The reality is that the stink really didn't occur until the NFC title game when Joe Buck on Fox used the term "12th man" at least 1,000 times on air. This is when aggy really started to get wind of things. Mind you, it was Joe Buck that said that and not the Seattle organization, and there in lies the reason why the Seattle Seahawks have to be laughing at this stupidity. The times they actually use the term "12th man" are few and far between. They use the #12 a lot and #12 jerseys, but that's it.

If anybody is guilty of anything, it is the Seattle media who labeled the fans this in the first place and then the Seattle fans who took on the label "12th man" for themselves. aggy is gonna have to sue half the city of Seattle, but right now they are pissed at the wrong people. Paul Allen has to be laughing about as hard as I am right now. If I were him and had his money, I would by the "12th man" trademark just so aggy couldn’t use it. How funny would that be. :D


To your first point, that may be but copyright law provides for this Company A starts using a slogan in 2001 company b starts it in 2011. Company A registers a trade mark for said slogan in 2013. Company A can then legally force company b to stop because Company A had started using it first.

To your second point, The Seahawks organization has indeed publicized the 12th man, including a sign at Qwest field (besides the 12 flag). They are also making money hand over fist and are simply being jerks about stopping. If they weren't in some way gaining from this, then why would they put up a fight. THey had 3 months to fight A&M back in 1996 and they passed on it. A&M has a legal claim to the phrase and it has also been established that if you do not defend your copyrights, you are able to lose them. A&M is doing what it has to do, even though it is under unfortunate circumstances.

[wide-e-wide]

So much for winning with class. And I really don't think it is directed towards you anyway.


I really care what a racist pig like you thinks of me.

All together now...........let's hear it....

OWNED!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/bogthekid/aggyowned.jpg

[wide-e-wide]

I told you they were on a roll...

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=football&Number=3969620&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=football&Number=3969867&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=football&Number=3969794&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=football&Number=3968977&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

And my personal favorite...chocked full of aggyisms...

http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=567631&forum_id=5

poooor aggy

[farmerfan]

Wide or any other Texas fan, explain to me the difference in what A&M is doing and what Texas is currently doing with this:

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top%5Fstories/?ArID=82034

I am not up to speed on the law, considering I have broke it many times, however it seems laughable that while A&M is doing what they are that Texas turns around and does it to, am I sensing a double standard or am I off? This isnt meant to be smack, would just like to get a explination.

[dragonfootballfan]

Wide or any other Texas fan, explain to me the difference in what A&M is doing and what Texas is currently doing with this:

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top%5Fstories/?ArID=82034

I am not up to speed on the law, considering I have broke it many times, however it seems laughable that while A&M is doing what they are that Texas turns around and does it to, am I sensing a double standard or am I off? This isnt meant to be smack, would just like to get a explination.
There are many differences, but the first that I would like to talk about is the fact that the University of Texas did not wait 22 years to tell the restaurant to stop usint the name of their mascot.

[farmerfan]

There are many differences, but the first that I would like to talk about is the fact that the University of Texas did not wait 22 years to tell the restaurant to stop usint the name of their mascot.

22 years or 22 minutes, its still the same thing. eventually you wiull get caught. What about in 2001 when Texas threatened to sue Ft Worth for the color of the city logo? saying it was to close in orange and gave a misrepresentation of being affiliated with UT. No matter how long they wait or dont wait they have the logo trademarked, once again looks like the double standard of Texas fans poking fun of someone for doming sopmething they have done themselves.

[dragonfootballfan]

22 years or 22 minutes, its still the same thing. eventually you wiull get caught. What about in 2001 when Texas threatened to sue Ft Worth for the color of the city logo? saying it was to close in orange and gave a misrepresentation of being affiliated with UT. No matter how long they wait or dont wait they have the logo trademarked, once again looks like the double standard of Texas fans poking fun of someone for doming sopmething they have done themselves.
Seattle used the 12th man before it was a trademarked statement. They used it for 5 years before it was trademarked and 22 years after using they were told to stop. That is different from a restaurant using the name Bevo when it was already trademarked and it is different than the city of Fort Worth having to change some of their logos because they resembled the silhouette Longhorn logo that was trademarked before the Fort Worth made their logo.

[farmerfan]

Seattle used the 12th man before it was a trademarked statement. They used it for 5 years before it was trademarked and 22 years after using they were told to stop. That is different from a restaurant using the name Bevo when it was already trademarked and it is different than the city of Fort Worth having to change some of their logos because they resembled the silhouette Longhorn logo that was trademarked before the Fort Worth made their logo.


A&M still trademarked it and has the rights to it, Seattle doesnt. A&M has been known by that for over 80 years, the rights they have to that name are theirs rather they did it in 1990 or in 1996 or in 1983 befoire Seattle used it. Once A&M got the trademark on it, it became theirs, I dont see anything wrong with what A&M is doing. I dont think their is anythign wrong is what Texas is doing. If Seattle was so adamant about it then they would have trademarked it years ago, not taking off and running with it the year htey make the NFC championship game and start selling buttons and towles with that name on it.

[jtk1519]

Wide or any other Texas fan, explain to me the difference in what A&M is doing and what Texas is currently doing with this:

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top%5Fstories/?ArID=82034

I am not up to speed on the law, considering I have broke it many times, however it seems laughable that while A&M is doing what they are that Texas turns around and does it to, am I sensing a double standard or am I off? This isnt meant to be smack, would just like to get a explination.

My guess would be that The University is stating that by this restaurant using the name "Bevo" they are trying to in a way convince customers that they are in some way associated with The University. There is a strong legal precedent for this that has been used time and time again. It's the same reason that you can't build a bar next to Ameriquest Field and call it The "Ranger's Grill" unless you have permission from the Texas Rangers. That falls into the realm of marketing tie-ins and is nothing like what is going on in Seattle.

What is happening in Seattle is a different deal because the Seahawks are in no way trying to entertain or create the perception of a connection between them and aggy. If proof of such an attempt could be established, then we would have a much different story and aggy would have a very strong legal case. What we have is an NFL team that has been calling their fans the "12th man" long before aggy ever decided to trademark the phrase. There is some legal precedent that could allow the Seahawks to continue using the phrase despite aggy's ownership of the trademark for that very reason.

The whole thing really makes me laugh because Seattle fans have been called the 12th man since the team played in the King Dome dating back to the mid-80s. What makes it so funny is that aggy had no freaking' clue. With Seattle buried in the Northwest and having a team that rarely receives any kind of national attention, nobody knew or even cared. It wasn't until this year when Seattle became good and we started seeing more of their games on national TV that aggy realized what was going on. In other words, if this was such a big deal, where was aggy 2 years ago?

As for the organization, they don't use the phrase "12th man." That has been documented in an article that I am too tired to find. There is no "12th man" sign anywhere in Qwest field. All there is a flag that has nothing but the #12 on it hanging in the endzone and a retired #12 jersey that was retired years ago in honor of the fans. There is a very large tailgate party held between Qwest Field and Safeco Field before every game that says something to the effect of "Home of the 12th man", but those that organize that tailgate are in no way affiliated with the Seahawks organization thus leaving them free of any legal action aggy might try and take. It is believed that the Seahawks may have sold shirts with the "12th man" phrase on them, but that is it and that is easily corrected.

You want to know why the phrase "12th man" is used in regards to Seahawk fans? It's not because the organization does it, it's because of articles that say stuff like this...

SEATTLE — If the "12th man" makes a difference in Sunday's NFC Championship Game here between the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers, it won't be by accident.

...or Seahawks fans that say stuff like this...

"We feel like we're all part of the 12th man in spirit."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/seahawks/2006-01-19-seahawks-cover_x.htm

...or fan sites like this...

http://seahawks.mostvaluablenetwork.com/

Sure, the organization probably throws around the phrase "12th man" here and there, but it is small and not enough to constitute legal action. Those using the term "12th man" are not the Seattle Seahawks, it's their fans that have taken the label on for themselves and the local and now national media that have picked up on that and run with it. Reality, most people living outside of 500 miles of collie station barely know who aggy is. Unless they are die hard college fans, they probably have no clue aggy even has a 12th man.

In many ways, I do understand where aggy is coming from, but this is a fight they cannot win because the organization's use of the phrase is so small that it is nothing for them to quit using it, but there is no way that aggy is or even can stop all the fans in Seattle or even the press from using the term (that falls under freedom of the press and cannot be considered a trademark infringement).

I will conclude by saying this... the 12th man tradition is one of the few traditions aggy has that doesn't make you scratch your head and say "WTF"? I would go so far as to say I like it. That being said, with the pathetic on-field performance aggy has displayed in recent years and with the even more pathetic support of their fans, it's good to finally see somebody doing something good with the "12th man." So long as the organization doesn't fight this and try and take the phrase for themselves, there is just no way aggy can win.

Instead of trying to take an NFL team to court, aggy needs to hide the Little Debbies from Fran and tell him to do his job. Instead of fighting the Seahawks over something like this, aggy needs to worry about getting their own 12th man to actually go to games and in order to do that, they need to get men 1 though 11 on the field to quit playing like sh** week in and week out. Perhaps, when aggy gets their own house in order, they won't be the laughing stock they are now.

[farmerfan]

My guess would be that The University is stating that by this restaurant using the name "Bevo" they are trying to in a way convince customers that they are in some way associated with The University. There is a strong legal precedent for this that has been used time and time again. It's the same reason that you can't build a bar next to Ameriquest Field and call it The "Ranger's Grill" unless you have permission from the Texas Rangers. That falls into the realm of marketing tie-ins and is nothing like what is going on in Seattle.

What is happening in Seattle is a different deal because the Seahawks are in no way trying to entertain or create the perception of a connection between them and aggy. If proof of such an attempt could be established, then we would have a much different story and aggy would have a very strong legal case. What we have is an NFL team that has been calling their fans the "12th man" long before aggy ever decided to trademark the phrase. There is some legal precedent that could allow the Seahawks to continue using the phrase despite aggy's ownership of the trademark for that very reason.

The whole thing really makes me laugh because Seattle fans have been called the 12th man since the team played in the King Dome dating back to the mid-80s. What makes it so funny is that aggy had no freaking' clue. With Seattle buried in the Northwest and having a team that rarely receives any kind of national attention, nobody knew or even cared. It wasn't until this year when Seattle became good and we started seeing more of their games on national TV that aggy realized what was going on. In other words, if this was such a big deal, where was aggy 2 years ago?

As for the organization, they don't use the phrase "12th man." That has been documented in an article that I am too tired to find. There is no "12th man" sign anywhere in Qwest field. All there is a flag that has nothing but the #12 on it hanging in the endzone and a retired #12 jersey that was retired years ago in honor of the fans. There is a very large tailgate party held between Qwest Field and Safeco Field before every game that says something to the effect of "Home of the 12th man", but those that organize that tailgate are in no way affiliated with the Seahawks organization thus leaving them free of any legal action aggy might try and take. It is believed that the Seahawks may have sold shirts with the "12th man" phrase on them, but that is it and that is easily corrected.

You want to know why the phrase "12th man" is used in regards to Seahawk fans? It's not because the organization does it, it's because of articles that say stuff like this...



...or Seahawks fans that say stuff like this...



http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/seahawks/2006-01-19-seahawks-cover_x.htm

...or fan sites like this...

http://seahawks.mostvaluablenetwork.com/

Sure, the organization probably throws around the phrase "12th man" here and there, but it is small and not enough to constitute legal action. Those using the term "12th man" are not the Seattle Seahawks, it's their fans that have taken the label on for themselves and the local and now national media that have picked up on that and run with it. Reality, most people living outside of 500 miles of collie station barely know who aggy is. Unless they are die hard college fans, they probably have no clue aggy even has a 12th man.

In many ways, I do understand where aggy is coming from, but this is a fight they cannot win because the organization's use of the phrase is so small that it is nothing for them to quit using it, but there is no way that aggy is or even can stop all the fans in Seattle or even the press from using the term (that falls under freedom of the press and cannot be considered a trademark infringement).

I will conclude by saying this... the 12th man tradition is one of the few traditions aggy has that doesn't make you scratch your head and say "WTF"? I would go so far as to say I like it. That being said, with the pathetic on-field performance aggy has displayed in recent years and with the even more pathetic support of their fans, it's good to finally see somebody doing something good with the "12th man." So long as the organization doesn't fight this and try and take the phrase for themselves, there is just no way aggy can win.

Instead of trying to take an NFL team to court, aggy needs to hide the Little Debbies from Fran and tell him to do his job. Instead of fighting the Seahawks over something like this, aggy needs to worry about getting their own 12th man to actually go to games and in order to do that, they need to get men 1 though 11 on the field to quit playing like sh** week in and week out. Perhaps, when aggy gets their own house in order, they won't be the laughing stock they are now.


as always, well said. Thanks for the clarification. You going to law school or going ot be a journalist?

I love that last part, you can hide the little debbies but nebisco is to big and popular to hide all their cakes from franny.
Also as long as Gates and Byrne are in charge A&M is a lost cause. One of my best friends who is a A&M alumni is so frustrated by the performance on the field that he has refused to pay Brynes price for a team that he says is not even mediocre. We used to go to Aggie games when he was in school and spent a lot of times laughing at people who thought RC was so bad. O well. Thanks again for the clarification.

[dragonfootballfan]

Aggy is now going to sue Monica Lewinsky. Apparently sucking is something that was started at Aggy years ago, but only trademarked since Dennis Franchione stepped foot into College Station. Even though the Lewinsky incident took place in 1998 Aggy still feels that they have legal standing and will try to issue a cease and decist.







Disclaimer: Please don't ban me

[Miss Kitty]

That was just wrong.

[wide-e-wide]

Aggy is now going to sue Monica Lewinsky. Apparently sucking is something that was started at Aggy years ago, but only trademarked since Dennis Franchione stepped foot into College Station. Even though the Lewinsky incident took place in 1998 Aggy still feels that they have legal standing and will try to issue a cease and decist.







Disclaimer: Please don't ban me

Tight-ness...

OU has dibs on the "we suck" label though...so good luck to aggy on getting them to let go of that one.

[mad_fan]

Tight-ness...

OU has dibs on the "we suck" label though...so good luck to aggy on getting them to let go of that one.


They could have aggy/OU suckoff

[Miss Kitty]

And which one of you guys is gonna be the judge? :D

[mad_fan]

And which one of you guys is gonna be the judge? :D


Wide's the resident expert at...everything.....

[Miss Kitty]

Step up Wide...you have been nominated.

LMAO :D

[Tut]

"Instead of trying to take an NFL team to court, aggy needs to hide the Little Debbies from Fran and tell him to do his job."

There are plenty of cow patties left on the field for Fran after his aggies play.:eek:

If they sue, Aggie jokes will go national. :D

[jtk1519]

I'll tell you what, if you haven't visited Hornfans, it is a must see right now. Just the first page of the "On the Field" section is pure comic gold. Here is a sampling of some of the thread titles...

"aggy suing Sesame Street's The Count"

"Are the seahawks going to be aggy's newest rival?"

"aggy suing Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendes"

"Aggy Sues A Church In Virginia"

"Homer Kyle Moves to Seattle"

"aggy sues all ATM Machines"

"aggy suing Poland"

"Aggie Suing Fonzie"

"Aggy sues Maroon 5"

"aggy accidentally sues itself"

And the oldie that just never seems to go out of style...

"Did you hear what Rome said about Aggy..."

:D :D

[Miss Kitty]

And that is the kind of education I am paying for. CRAP! :D

[mtbray]

Wide or any other Texas fan, explain to me the difference in what A&M is doing and what Texas is currently doing with this:

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top%5Fstories/?ArID=82034

I am not up to speed on the law, considering I have broke it many times, however it seems laughable that while A&M is doing what they are that Texas turns around and does it to, am I sensing a double standard or am I off? This isnt meant to be smack, would just like to get a explination.

I think Texas is wrong for this also, but those people ARE pretty stupid to be using the name "Bevo's Grille." The main difference I see in this is that as someone mentioned earlier in the thread, the whole 12th man thing is mainly generated by the fans and media up in Seattle. I'm sure the Seattle Seahawks organization isn't gonna go under by not being able to put 12th man on shirts, assuming they do now. That, I do think they should be able to get in trouble for. The flag I believe should be able to remain.

As someone who attends UT-Austin, I personally hate UT in a number of ways. My older brother and I refer to it many times as UT, Inc. Mainly this is for parking, but I think the university sometimes has too much power and abuses it.

The Bevo's Grille people, imo, are simply naive.

[Primetime536]

That would never happen.
If it did...the team that started using it would immediately be ridiculed and exposed for being unorginal morons.

Nobody even noticed Seattle doing it...until aggy spoke up.
That right there says a whole lot.

How bad do you have to suck when another team can "steal" or "borrow" your trademark..............and you are the only one that notices?

It's not like Seattle just started this whole thing last week...they have been doing it a while...



Better get used to it bro...we were here long before you were....and will probably be here long after...
As long as I'm here.....they are aggy.
Can I get a witness?



Typical coward....why not say it's directed at me? No balls?
We (meaning UT fans) listened to the hype surrounding USC for damn near
a year...............well it's gonna be a loooooong off-season for the haters.
Because it's our turn.....and we ain't shuttin' up baby.
No balls? Like I said, it wasnt directed at anyone in this thread. No balls because I say whats on my mind? What do you want me to do, say wide, you pansy, stop complaining about the lack of respect and enjoy it. Say wide your a pathetic UT fan who talks about peoples predictions from 3 months ago? GET OVER IT, PEOPLE ARE WRONG SOMETIMES. One wrong prediction and every UT fan on the planet is talking about all kinds of quotes. Bringing up things from 3 years ago,"mack cant win the big game","VY throws sidearm","VTech will win the tittle". Get off the soap box you pansy people are wrong sometimes. You dont have to make the NC seem any more heroic then it already is. We all know mack,Vince, and UT as a whole is great.You can say they are great all you want. Just please stop complaining about the past and enjoy UTs dominance.

[DragonBand06]

There are many differences, but the first that I would like to talk about is the fact that the University of Texas did not wait 22 years to tell the restaurant to stop usint the name of their mascot.
A&M didn't wait 22 years. They got a trademark in 1990.

[dragonfootballfan]

A&M didn't wait 22 years. They got a trademark in 1990.
the Seahawks started using the phrase in 1984. 2006 - 1984 = 22

[garlandowl08]

As I have already stated, the time frame does not matter. If anything, A&M was being nice to Seattle. Copyright law says that as long as A&M started using it first, and they got a regiestered trademark first,even if its after Seattle started using it, then A&M can and has to try to make them stop. If you don't use your trade mark, you lose it. The time frame does seem a bit silly but it is completely legal. THis is also teh first time the organization is getting serious coverage and revenue from it to. If the fans use the term, it is not illegal. If people are making money off the term,it is illegal. It is illegal and A&M must stop it.

[wide-e-wide]

Bringing up things from 3 years ago,"mack cant win the big game"

ummm...people were saying that less than a month ago...
Not 3 years ago...

[slorch]

all I gotta say is... if this is the big worry for the day, ain't life grand!!!

[Reaganrattler07]

I really care what a racist pig like you thinks of me.

HAHAHAHAHA....me? Racist? Haha, Wide, you may wanna find out a little bit more about me before you call me racist.

[dragonfootballfan]

HAHAHAHAHA....me? Racist? Haha, Wide, you may wanna find out a little bit more about me before you call me racist.
go back to the BET thread it is crawling with racist overtones.

[Reaganrattler07]

go back to the BET thread it is crawling with racist overtones.

Lol, you may wanna go back and check it. If anything was "racist" it was Redneck'n. I merely stated that people who dressed with their pants down to their thighs (who are of all walks of life) tend to inhabit the bad parts of town. You all are trying to label me as a racist merely because you don't like me.

[dragonfootballfan]

Lol, you may wanna go back and check it. If anything was "racist" it was Redneck'n. I merely stated that people who dressed with their pants down to their thighs (who are of all walks of life) tend to inhabit the bad parts of town. You all are trying to label me as a racist merely because you don't like me.
You talked about how a certain group of people you say caused many stores to go out of business in a thread about the black entertainment channel. Even Aggy could connect those dots.

[Reaganrattler07]

You talked about how a certain group of people you say caused many stores to go out of business in a thread about the black entertainment channel. Even Aggy could connect those dots.

Lol, just cause it's in a certain thread, doesn't mean it relates to it. Take this thread for example, you all chose to blatantly call me racist in a thread dedicated to the 12thman Trademark situation going on.

[dragonfootballfan]

Lol, just cause it's in a certain thread, doesn't mean it relates to it. Take this thread for example, you all chose to blatantly call me racist in a thread dedicated to the 12thman Trademark situation going on.
Well the way I read that thread is somebody pointed out that they should not have BET. Then somebody said that they do not like it when their race is going to become a minority and then somebody said that certain people made stores close because it became a bad neighborhood when a substituted word for an African American kept hanging around those places. Which by the way may be the dumbest thing that I had ever read.

[Reaganrattler07]

Well the way I read that thread is somebody pointed out that they should not have BET. Then somebody said that they do not like it when their race is going to become a minority and then somebody said that certain people made stores close because it became a bad neighborhood when a substituted word for an African American kept hanging around those places. Which by the way may be the dumbest thing that I had ever read.

You started off good. Someone (other than me or Redneck'n) started a thread on BET and why they didn't like it. Redneck'n then gave his opinion. And then I joined in saying my displeasure of channels such as "Comedy" that have stand ups bash about every race there is. Then Redneck'n began to speak of "saggers" (see the description a few posts up) and I said that the people like that started hanging out in a certain mall (Windsor Park Mall, San Antonio) and that mall rapidly declined because of constant theft and problems. Other companies, like Wal Mart and Home Depot moved into the area, but pulled out because of the same reason. Now, as the "n-word" entered....I believe it was your buddy Wide, who first incited that perhaps people would rather use the n-word instead of "saggers". Now, as I have stated multiple times - "saggers" come from all walks of life.

[wide-e-wide]

Step up Wide...you have been nominated.

LMAO :D


No contest needed...
OU's sucktitude trumps any other sucktitude known to man.
They are in a league all of their own...

[jtk1519]

The Seattle Times summed this up about as well as it can possibly be summed up...

DETROIT — Yo, Texas A&M, one word for you — chill! Cease and desist with your whining. Get a life. Get 12 of them.

Surely there are things more important in this world to worry about than whether the Seahawks have ripped off your trademarked "12th Man" idea.

Things like the decline of education in this country, the unrelenting problems in the Middle East and the fact you guys can't beat Texas.

I mean, where have you been?

The Seahawks didn't just think up the idea of the 12th Man last November when the packed house at Qwest Field roared so loudly that New York Giants linemen looked as jumpy as squirrels.

This number 12 has been retired in Seattle since 1984. You remember 1984, don't you? You should. You beat Texas that year, 37-12.

What's next? Are you going to threaten to sue the Seahawks for cheering after touchdowns? Is that something else you think is unique to College Station?

"I thought everybody used the 12th Man," Seattle safety Michael Boulware said at Monday's news conference. "I can't believe they're really serious about it. I know for me, as a defensive player, our 12th Man is huge. I need the 12th Man. They give us an advantage. I just hope this thing just goes away."

This is much ado about 12.

Yo, A&M! The way your football team has been losing the past few years — 16-19 the past three seasons — you might try your luck with a 12th and a 13th Man.

And while you're at it, why not patent some cheers like "Hold that line," or "Block that kick." Or "Hit 'em again. Hit 'em again. Harder. Harder." And sue any cheerleading team that dares to use them.

"Every team thinks of their fans as the 12th Man. I don't see why it's a big deal," Seahawks defensive tackle Chuck Darby said. "The 12th Man is our fans, and they made a difference."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002772706_kell31.html

aggy has now solidified themselves as a joke nation wide. Just when you think they can't get lower, aggy keeps digging. :D

[wide-e-wide]

Kyle Field

Home of the 12th Place.....errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Man.

[dragonfootballfan]

Kyle Field

Home of the 12th Place.....errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Man.
Aggy 12th place in big 12 stats

Pass Defense
Kick Return Average
Total Defense
Pass Efficiency defense
Defensive 3rd down conversions

Aggy 11th place in big 12 stats (so close to 12th that you are allowed to make out with the sheep that you brought to the stadium)

Scoring Defense (missed by .1 ppg)
Punting (missed by .4 ypp)
Opponent first downs (missed by 1 first down)

[lonny23]

Wide or any other Texas fan, explain to me the difference in what A&M is doing and what Texas is currently doing with this:

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top%5Fstories/?ArID=82034

I am not up to speed on the law, considering I have broke it many times, however it seems laughable that while A&M is doing what they are that Texas turns around and does it to, am I sensing a double standard or am I off? This isnt meant to be smack, would just like to get a explination.
There's not a bit of a difference between what A&M is doing and what UT is doing. I'm all for patents and trademarks, but I think it's crazy when you get one for phrases and words and then sue somebody that uses the phrase that's not even competing for the same dollars you're competing for. We can't even use, "Good Gosh Amighty Joe Friday" because the guys from the football game trademarked it. On a side note, it was cool to see them in Varsity Blues when I watched it for the first time a few days ago. They filmed the movie in Elgin and Georgetown, but none of the teams or town names were real. The only real stuff was Olin Buchanan, the announcers, and the Landing Strip, which I'm sure a few of you have visited!:p

It's OK for A&M to get money for 12th Man A&M shirts, but it's crazy for them to keep Seattle from making shirts with the same phrase. I really don't think Bevo's Grille should be changed. I've never been aware of Texas making money off of Bevo. I think most of this garbage about not wanting to misrepresent somebody is garbage.

In conclusion, both colleges have the trademarks and have the right to fight, but I think they're wasting money doing that stuff.

[lonny23]

22 years or 22 minutes, its still the same thing. eventually you wiull get caught. What about in 2001 when Texas threatened to sue Ft Worth for the color of the city logo? saying it was to close in orange and gave a misrepresentation of being affiliated with UT. No matter how long they wait or dont wait they have the logo trademarked, once again looks like the double standard of Texas fans poking fun of someone for doming sopmething they have done themselves.
Yes, it's a double standard. Let's see if I can find something else!:p

[lonny23]

My guess would be that The University is stating that by this restaurant using the name "Bevo" they are trying to in a way convince customers that they are in some way associated with The University. There is a strong legal precedent for this that has been used time and time again. It's the same reason that you can't build a bar next to Ameriquest Field and call it The "Ranger's Grill" unless you have permission from the Texas Rangers. That falls into the realm of marketing tie-ins and is nothing like what is going on in Seattle.

What is happening in Seattle is a different deal because the Seahawks are in no way trying to entertain or create the perception of a connection between them and aggy. If proof of such an attempt could be established, then we would have a much different story and aggy would have a very strong legal case. What we have is an NFL team that has been calling their fans the "12th man" long before aggy ever decided to trademark the phrase. There is some legal precedent that could allow the Seahawks to continue using the phrase despite aggy's ownership of the trademark for that very reason.

The whole thing really makes me laugh because Seattle fans have been called the 12th man since the team played in the King Dome dating back to the mid-80s. What makes it so funny is that aggy had no freaking' clue. With Seattle buried in the Northwest and having a team that rarely receives any kind of national attention, nobody knew or even cared. It wasn't until this year when Seattle became good and we started seeing more of their games on national TV that aggy realized what was going on. In other words, if this was such a big deal, where was aggy 2 years ago?

As for the organization, they don't use the phrase "12th man." That has been documented in an article that I am too tired to find. There is no "12th man" sign anywhere in Qwest field. All there is a flag that has nothing but the #12 on it hanging in the endzone and a retired #12 jersey that was retired years ago in honor of the fans. There is a very large tailgate party held between Qwest Field and Safeco Field before every game that says something to the effect of "Home of the 12th man", but those that organize that tailgate are in no way affiliated with the Seahawks organization thus leaving them free of any legal action aggy might try and take. It is believed that the Seahawks may have sold shirts with the "12th man" phrase on them, but that is it and that is easily corrected.

You want to know why the phrase "12th man" is used in regards to Seahawk fans? It's not because the organization does it, it's because of articles that say stuff like this...



...or Seahawks fans that say stuff like this...



http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/seahawks/2006-01-19-seahawks-cover_x.htm

...or fan sites like this...

http://seahawks.mostvaluablenetwork.com/

Sure, the organization probably throws around the phrase "12th man" here and there, but it is small and not enough to constitute legal action. Those using the term "12th man" are not the Seattle Seahawks, it's their fans that have taken the label on for themselves and the local and now national media that have picked up on that and run with it. Reality, most people living outside of 500 miles of collie station barely know who aggy is. Unless they are die hard college fans, they probably have no clue aggy even has a 12th man.

In many ways, I do understand where aggy is coming from, but this is a fight they cannot win because the organization's use of the phrase is so small that it is nothing for them to quit using it, but there is no way that aggy is or even can stop all the fans in Seattle or even the press from using the term (that falls under freedom of the press and cannot be considered a trademark infringement).

I will conclude by saying this... the 12th man tradition is one of the few traditions aggy has that doesn't make you scratch your head and say "WTF"? I would go so far as to say I like it. That being said, with the pathetic on-field performance aggy has displayed in recent years and with the even more pathetic support of their fans, it's good to finally see somebody doing something good with the "12th man." So long as the organization doesn't fight this and try and take the phrase for themselves, there is just no way aggy can win.

Instead of trying to take an NFL team to court, aggy needs to hide the Little Debbies from Fran and tell him to do his job. Instead of fighting the Seahawks over something like this, aggy needs to worry about getting their own 12th man to actually go to games and in order to do that, they need to get men 1 though 11 on the field to quit playing like sh** week in and week out. Perhaps, when aggy gets their own house in order, they won't be the laughing stock they are now.
Our Lieutenant hangs a towel in his office that says "TEXAS A&M 12TH MAN".

[lonny23]

And which one of you guys is gonna be the judge? :D
I think they're going to be on the receiving end!:p That's what all the UT fans want from us anyway.:D

[lonny23]

And that is the kind of education I am paying for. CRAP! :D
Yeah, like the legal slush fund everybody has for frivolous lawsuits.

I said, "You're fired" for 15 years before Trump ever came out with that show, but he could sue me for saying the phrase. That's crazy.:confused:

[lonny23]

HAHAHAHAHA....me? Racist? Haha, Wide, you may wanna find out a little bit more about me before you call me racist.
I'm not calling you one, but I will tell you that it's not hard to connect you to potentially being one. The comments from the BET thread are one thing, but you have also said how Reagan was the best place for you and that's a majority white school in a minority county.

[Primetime536]

ummm...people were saying that less than a month ago...
Not 3 years ago...
Dude is that all you can come with?

Grow some balls and dont back out now(sound familar?).

Comon wide i thought you were the king of comebacks.....

[wide-e-wide]

Dude is that all you can come with?

Grow some balls and dont back out now(sound familar?).

Comon wide i thought you were the king of comebacks.....


I was just smashing you so-called point...that we are being sarcastic about things that were said 3 years ago...
That is ridiculous...
It was being said a few weeks ago. where were you?

The fact remains......you demand that we shut up about it....
My response to that is......it sucks to be you.....because I am not gonna shut up.
I have waited damn near my whole life for this to happen.
And now that it has.......you think I am gonna rub it in for a few weeks and then stop?
Not likely bro...

I had similar feelings about the SLC posters going on and on about their squad...
But then I realized something....
If I don't like it.........................then why am I reading it?
So now I just ignore it.
I suggest you do the same.........otherwise get ready for it...because it's not gonna stop anytime soon.

[wide-e-wide]

Aggy 12th place in big 12 stats

Pass Defense
Kick Return Average
Total Defense
Pass Efficiency defense
Defensive 3rd down conversions

Aggy 11th place in big 12 stats (so close to 12th that you are allowed to make out with the sheep that you brought to the stadium)

Scoring Defense (missed by .1 ppg)
Punting (missed by .4 ypp)
Opponent first downs (missed by 1 first down)

100 bucks says aggy will try to explain all of those stats away...
Let me guess...you didn't lose...you just ran out of time.

[DragonBand06]

100 bucks says aggy will try to explain all of those stats away...
Let me guess...you didn't lose...you just ran out of time.
Get out of here wide. Go poke fun at someone who cares. :p

[wide-e-wide]

Seattle tells aggy to shut their Oatmeal Cream Pieholes (seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002772706_kell31.html)

poor aggy...getting PWN3d by a journalist...wow

[farmerfan]

Seattle tells aggy to shut their Oatmeal Cream Pieholes (seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002772706_kell31.html)

poor aggy...getting PWN3d by a journalist...wow


i read that this morning, was disapointed in his choice of YO, felt that WHOOP would have been much better.

[wide-e-wide]

i read that this morning, was disapointed in his choice of YO, felt that WHOOP would have been much better.


Either that or "Hey dipsh.t"...
Yo is what they say in the Bronx...
Wait......sorry Farmer...I forgot...never mention the Bronx around you.
It's like bringing up Norman around me.

[dragonfootballfan]

I can see a bronx lawsuit coming against this writer. How about instead of a lawsuit I just take this guy back to my old neighboorhood and have him try to survive for 24 hrs. I bet you I could scare the "YO" out of him

[wide-e-wide]

I can see a bronx lawsuit coming against this writer. How about instead of a lawsuit I just take this guy back to my old neighboorhood and have him try to survive for 24 hrs. I bet you I could scare the "YO" out of him


I knew a chick when I was stationed on the East Coast...she was from South Bronx...
She once walked up to a group of us...and tried to get everybody's attention...

She said "yo" at least 8 times in one sentence...and we just looked at each other...like WTF did she just say?

From that day on her nickname was.......?????

That's right....Yo-yo

[mad_fan]

I think they're going to be on the receiving end!:p That's what all the UT fans want from us anyway.:D

This from the guy that brought the board his own version of 'Bed knobs and Broomsticks'.:p

[Miss Kitty]

No contest needed...
OU's sucktitude trumps any other sucktitude known to man.
They are in a league all of their own...


Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. A true Wide-ism. This has got to me a 5A Texas Football.com buzz word. It is truly and original. :D

sucktitude

[Reaganrattler07]

I'm not calling you one, but I will tell you that it's not hard to connect you to potentially being one. The comments from the BET thread are one thing, but you have also said how Reagan was the best place for you and that's a majority white school in a minority county.

Anyone my age has the potential to be just about anything. It's the choices I make that'll determine what the potential would be used for. I do hope you all know that I am not really white.

[mad_fan]

Anyone my age has the potential to be just about anything. It's the choices I make that'll determine what the potential would be used for. I do hope you all know that I am not really white.


:eek: Get out of here!?:eek:

what did he mean by that?:D

[Pearland1]

You cant use "you are fired" is a trademark of Donald Trump so what how do fire some one?

1. you have been terminated

2. your gone

3. you are fuego ( spanish version) would that infringe in the trademark if is in another language.

muahahahah

[DragonBand06]

You cant use "you are fired" is a trademark of Donald Trump so what how do fire some one?

1. you have been terminated

2. your gone

3. you are fuego ( spanish version) would that infringe in the trademark if is in another language.

muahahahah
Si, senor.

[DragonBand06]

You cant use "you are fired" is a trademark of Donald Trump so what how do fire some one?

1. you have been terminated

2. your gone

3. you are fuego ( spanish version) would that infringe in the trademark if is in another language.

muahahahah
How about "Your performance over the last year can be defined in one word... sucktitude."

[garlandowl08]

Seattle tells aggy to shut their Oatmeal Cream Pieholes (seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002772706_kell31.html)

poor aggy...getting PWN3d by a journalist...wow


1) I can'te believe you're siding with the rainy wasteland

2) Articles from Texas have "pwn3d" seattle just as much as articles from up there have pnw3d us...get over yourself.

[wide-e-wide]

1) I can'te believe you're siding with the rainy wasteland

2) Articles from Texas have "pwn3d" seattle just as much as articles from up there have pnw3d us...get over yourself.


I'm siding with anybody...I don't have to take sides.
It's painfully obvious to me...and the rest of the nation...that aggy has really outdone themselves with this one...(is that even possible?)

My favorite line is the one about aggy needing a 13th man...hahahaha

[DragonBand06]

My favorite line is the one about aggy needing a 13th man...hahahaha
My favorite line is the one where you leave and bother someone who cares... :p
(It's all in good fun, bro.)

[garlandowl08]

My favorite line is the one where you leave and bother someone who cares... :p
(It's all in good fun, bro.)
I hate to diss a fellow Ag, but that was a lame comeback and wide knows its all in good fun. My sig says he smells and that heppens every time I post. He hasnt even said anything about it...