With the Super Bowl coming up on Feb. 12, 2023, many churches and schools are preparing to host watch parties in their fellowship halls or recreation rooms. If your church or school is hosting an event, keep these six rules in mind to make sure your organization stays compliant with copyright law.
- Rule 1: Do NOT charge admission.
- Rule 2: DO NOT CHARGE ADMISSION!
- Rule 3: Do not rent any equipment. Your organization must use equipment it already owns and uses in the regular course of business.
- Rule 4: Show the game live in your facility only. Recording the game to exhibit later is NOT allowed. Moreover, posting video clips of the game on your organization’s social media account is also not allowed. Do not post clips on your personal account either.
- Rule 5: Be careful about how the event is promoted. Do not call it a "Super Bowl Party" in advertisements, announcements, social media mentions and other promotions. Call it the "Big Game Party" or something similar.
- Rule 6: Do not use the NFL logo and other branding associated with the league, the teams and the game. All these graphics, including the term "Super Bowl," are trademarked by the NFL and they are ruthless about protecting their trademarks and intellectual property.
Have a great event with food, fellowship and football. Be sure to follow these rules to protect your organization as you host your party. Trust me, you don’t want the NFL’s battalion of lawyers coming after you.
Enjoy the game!
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