Seahawks Ordered To Stop Using '12th Man'
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M has sought a restraining order against the Seattle Seahawks, asking the NFC champions to stop promoting the "12th Man" marketing campaign.
A local district judge in Bryan, Texas, reportedly signed a temporary restraining order Monday against the Seahawks from using the "12th Man" slogan until a ruling is made on whether the phrase is a licensed trademark of Texas A&M University. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
The school filed the request Monday in district court in Brazos County, arguing that the Seahawks are infringing on A&M's legal claim to the "12th Man" slogan. The school claims it created the moniker more than 80 years ago and owns the rights to use it.
"Texas A&M University certainly has no ill will towards the Seattle Seahawks," said Steve Moore, A&M's chief marketing officer and vice president for communications. "However, we have the responsibility and legal obligation to protect the university's trademarks, which in this instance is the '12th Man."'
The Seahawks, who play Pittsburgh in Sunday's Super Bowl, have recognized their followers as a "12th Man" since the mid-1980s, when capacity crowds turned the now-demolished Kingdome into one of the NFL's loudest venues. The team retired the No. 12 in 1984.
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