Posted on 02/01/2007 7:38:48 AM PST by pctech
Fall Creek Baptist Church Family...
We regret to inform you that we have had to cancel our bash to view the Colts game this Sunday in a family friendly environment due to the fact that the NFL believes we would be in violation of the Copyright Act, because we had planned to show the game on a screen bigger than a 55 inch diagonal. We have appealed to their legal counsel and exhausted all options without success. We have been informed that the only exceptions to view the game are given to sports bars and restaurants. While we have argued that we only intend to provide a family oriented environment that will make no profit from the showing, the NFL claims that our event cannot proceed by law. Therefore, we have no choice but to challenge this in court or cancel the event. We choose to cancel the event. We deeply regret that we have been prohibited by the NFL from providing a family friendly environment for celebrating the Colts great season.
Pastor John
Sell? No. Record? Yes. Watch? Yes.
Well remember this is a two part thing. First off the NFL doesn't like having their stuff used to send messages, largely for backlash fear there's always somebody out there that thinks message X is stupid and any implications that the NFL supports it could cost money, this is really the part the NFL is objecting to. Then there's the image thing, who owns your face, and in that regard the NFL actually does have a certain level of ownership of Smith and Dungy, they're both members of the coaches association, thus allowing the NFL to sell their names and images (like for EA Sport's Madden series, there's a reason Belichick is always listed in Madden as "NE Coach", he's not a member of the CA and refuses to sign EA's paperwork) and apply whatever rules are in the CBA to their public appearances.
Whatever.
--The only thing I question is if the NFL would be able to restrict the screen size so long as there is no admission fee, no collection and no "donations," and no use of the term "Super Bowl." It sounds like fair use to me.--
It would never have come up on their (radar) screen if they hadn't adverised it that way. (Pun intended)!
Seriously, you are probably correct in the general but NFL lawyers might disagree.
This thread kind of took on a life of its known. Glad to see people are noticing this. Thanks everyone!
bump for later
Church 'Super Bowl' festivities may go on
wnd.com | Posted: February 2, 2007 | By Bob Unruh
Posted on 02/02/2007 8:47:12 PM EST by Perdogg
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1778396/posts
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