It strikes me as I’m driving down the road (listening to the radio) that perhaps things have gone a bit far when it comes to licensing. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that people want to protect their property – whether it is intellectual property, such as software, or actual property, such as a brand in which they have invested or even a trademark.
But maybe – just maybe – things are a little out of hand when someone isn’t allowed to say the name of the local football team or the big game that they play at the end of the year without writing out a check to someone. That’s ridiculous. It’s not like they don’t know who they are talking about. I mean I understand wanting to protect your investment and all, but come on people!
When the ad comes on that talks about the “running back for Carolina” and then the guy just stops, it’s like he has suddenly forgotten who he plays for or just isn’t allowed to say it. But in truth, it’s because the licensing term don’t allow them to use the term Carolina Panthers without writing a check to someone. Where do they draw the line?
I mean is it okay for me to say the team’s name in that paragraph that I just wrote, or should I be worried about some goons coming to collect because there are ads on the site, so potentially it could be seen as if I’m profiting off of the team’s brand? Is it okay to use the name, so long as there is no sign of profit involved? Or is it just not okay at all?
If you watch a game on Sunday, you get the standard disclaimer of “no account of this telecast is permitted”, which actually would seem to indicate that even one kid at school can’t tell another kid what happened, and it’s really not that much of a stretch to imagine that it might be policed one day.
Sure, it’s obvious that someone selling cars or televisions and using the likeness of the team – or saying that if the team wins the “big game” (like we don’t know what that is) they will give everyone a free prize – should have to pay something for doing so. But where does it all end?