By Jared Dubin | CBSSports.com staff
February 8, 2015 9:31 am ET
Seattle may have to pay up to continue using the 12th man moniker. (Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks fans are often collectively referred to as "the 12th man." They carry flags and wear jerseys with the number 12 on them, and players refer to them as "the 12's" in interviews, on Twitter and elsewhere. It's a fairly well-known moniker for the fan-base at this point.
Here's the thing, though: The Seahawks are only allowed to use that moniker for their fans because they licensed use of the term from Texas A&M University, which trademarked it in 1990. An agreement was made back in 2006 to allow the Seahawks to use the term for $5,000 per year. That agreement lasted until 2011, when it was renewed for another five years, meaning the license expires in 2016.
The Seahawks, obviously, will want to renew that licensing agreement, and Texas A&M told KREM2 they've already begun negotiations to renew, though it may cost more this time around, given how valuable it has become to the Seahawks. Seattle jerseys with the number 12 on them were in the top 15 in sales in the NFL this past season.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25062699/seahawks-12th-man-license-expires-next-year
February 8, 2015 9:31 am ET
Seattle may have to pay up to continue using the 12th man moniker. (Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks fans are often collectively referred to as "the 12th man." They carry flags and wear jerseys with the number 12 on them, and players refer to them as "the 12's" in interviews, on Twitter and elsewhere. It's a fairly well-known moniker for the fan-base at this point.
Here's the thing, though: The Seahawks are only allowed to use that moniker for their fans because they licensed use of the term from Texas A&M University, which trademarked it in 1990. An agreement was made back in 2006 to allow the Seahawks to use the term for $5,000 per year. That agreement lasted until 2011, when it was renewed for another five years, meaning the license expires in 2016.
The Seahawks, obviously, will want to renew that licensing agreement, and Texas A&M told KREM2 they've already begun negotiations to renew, though it may cost more this time around, given how valuable it has become to the Seahawks. Seattle jerseys with the number 12 on them were in the top 15 in sales in the NFL this past season.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25062699/seahawks-12th-man-license-expires-next-year
