were Super Bowls I and II commonly referred to as “Super Bowl” at the time. The first game to bear the name was Super Bowl III. Did the NFL trademark it at that time?
I apologize if this has been covered in the other “Super Bowl trademark” threads, but I didn’t read them.
The first games were called the NFL-AFL Championship Game. When it was trademarked as the Super Bowl I have no idea.
According to the friendly database at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/jumpto?f=doc&state=76mtpl.2.60
The term “Super Bowl” was first used regarding a “football exhibition” in January 1967. A trademark was applied for in early 1969, and was granted in December 1969.
The USPTO lists 62 references to Super Bowl, ranging from dog food to (you guessed it) bowls.
kunilou, those trademark search links expire quick-as-a-bunny. If someone else wants to see that record, they’ll have to run the search themselves, from here.