# Can't legally say "Superbowl" - What!?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-legally-say-superbowl-what/225440
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 21, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-legally-say-superbowl-what/225440 "2004-01-21T07:50:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-legally-say-superbowl-what/225440/1 "2004-01-21T07:50:13Z")
Listening to the radio this morning here in beautiful Houston, Texas (hey, stop laughing), I heard a station’s promotional advertisement for a Superbowl ticket giveaway. During the spot they made a big freaking deal about how they couldn’t legally say Sup\*rbowl on the air, and repeatedly bleeped the word out. I also heard a sports radio make a similar remark a week or two ago.
So, what the hell are these yammering idiots talking about? My guess is that “Superbowl” is a trademark of the NFL, so it can’t be used without permission for commercial endeavors - does that sound about right? I can’t think of any other circumstance under which a name can’t be used.
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### Author:  [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2004, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-legally-say-superbowl-what/225440/2 "2004-01-21T07:59:37Z")
[See this very recent thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=235319)
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### Author:  [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2004, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-legally-say-superbowl-what/225440/3 "2004-01-21T08:06:21Z")
Thanks- I did a search for Superbowl but not “Super Bowl.” :smack:
Mods, feel free to close this thread.