Texas A&M sues Indianapolis Colts for unauthorized use of ‘12th Man’
Texas A&M has filed a lawsuit against the Indianapolis Colts for unauthorized use of the team’s 12th Man trademark, the university announced on Thursday afternoon.
President Michael K. Young issued the following statement:
“Texas A&M University is the Home of the 12th Man, which has brought our fan base national renown,” Young said. “We would prefer not to file lawsuits to protect our trademarks. However, when our intellectual property, especially the 12th Man mark which is so important to our students and former students, is used without our permission after repeated attempts to engage on the matter, we are left with no choice.”
Texas A&M first took action to protect its trademark in 2004 with a cease and desist letter to the Seattle Seahawks. Since 2006, the Seahawks have paid the university for their use of the trademarked phrase.
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The origins of the fan base’s name date back to 1922 when E. King Gill, a student at the university, came out of the stands and stood on the field ready to enter the game.
- Christopher Chavez
