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
Though personally, I'm of the opinion that churches ought to spend their time and resources worshipping God. I know that sounds pretty crazy.
This part also -
The league even took exception to the church's plan to influence nonmembers with a video highlighting the Christian testimonies of Colts coach Tony Dungy and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith.
"While this may be a noble message," NFL assistant counsel Rachel L. Margolies wrote in a follow-up e-mail, "we are consistent in refusing the use of our game broadcasts in connection with events that promote a message, no matter the content."
The NFL has a right to protect their product - this isn't an example of anti-Christian bias or anything else you want to imagine into it.
-- If anyone wants to read it I can supply a link or just go to Indystar.com. --
The link is on the page you linked to.
I don't really see this "tailgating ban" as such a big deal. It's not like a "normal" regular-season game for the Dolphins, with "normal" (?) regular-season fans...it would be kind of difficult to tailgate with all the corporate jets if they tried to do that in the stadium parking lots...
Copyright law defines the size at which the broadcast image can be exhibited...?
Got it! I didn't see that before. Thanks for the heads up.
NEVER ADVERTISE!
Dear Pastor John,
A little tape around the perimeter of your televison can reduce the size to 54.999 inches.
I would have done the same thing (this situation is just another gestapo tactic of the NFL) but the church doesn't want to give the impression of being a law breaker so I can see why they cancelled it.
I think the SUPER BOWL® is smaller than it could be because the NFL is getting bad marketing and legal advice.
The one that gets me is making every business that wants to do something related to the SUPER BOWL® use the code word "The Big Game" because they'll get sued if they don't purchase a license to use the copy. I take it nobody buys the license because I don't hear anybody talk about the SUPER BOWL® in commercial advertising. Took me years to understand the "code word." I say, NFL, lighten up. Let them yell SUPER BOWL® from the mountaintops. As long as they're not selling NFL franchised merch, who gives a flip. Just makes them look like nazis.
Prolly a megachurch.
The other day was a thread here about the NFL declaring a 1 mile radius around the stadium would be a No Tailgate Zone. Looking on Google Earth, there's neighborhoods surrounding the stadium. I'd like to know how they have the authority to ban what those people do in their own back yards, much less what the church watches on tv. And we thought Big Brother was merely the government.
I do too actually, they haven't had anything worth seeing during the half-time if my memory serves.
Those are 'NFL rules' (not 'copyright law' as previously stated)? How are those enforceable? What licensing agreement is an individual engaging in when they turn on a set to show a broadcast on the open airwaves? What legal premise gives the NFL power of enforcement and an ability to attach compulsory licensing to free broadcasts (other than the threat of legal intimidation through civil prosecution)? The church isn't engaged in reproduction of the materials (DVD, re-broadcast, or anything else).
The were initially notified because they were advertising to come watch the Super Bowl and listing the admission fee. A big no-no. Also, they were advertising the testimonials of NFL players.
Good point on both counts. I actually heard someone on a Chicago sports station that they had to set up a tailgate party 7 miles from the stadium! Go figure!
I'm with you. Sometimes people just want to whine and blame someone else when there is a very easy solution. They want to make a political statement. They obviously knew the rule because they asked permission. I can understand why they have granted these rights to the sports bars and understand also why giving these rights to just anyone would hurt their business.
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