Locked Out NFL Players Can’t Even Appear In Porn Event Ads While In Uniform Anymore
By
It doesn’t even seem fair: NFL players, locked out, trying to pass the time, decide to be pseudo hosts of a pornography event and when said porno event uses their likenesses in their NFL uniforms, the league gets all pissy about it. The heck, right?
But apparently such a hullabaloo appears to be in the offing after an image of Chicago Bears safety Major Right, as well as other NFL players including Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Brandon Flowers (not the guy from The Killers), appeared in a promotional poster for last month’s Exxxotica Expo 2011 in Miami. The league is currently investigating, because hey, it’s not like they have anything more important to focus on.
Via WLS-TV:
“The NFL office works on behalf of the clubs to protect their intellectual property rights in matters such as this” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy after receiving a copy of an ad first disclosed by the ABC7 I-Team. The ad for last month’s Exxxotica Expo 2011 in Miami showed photos of five NFL players in their team uniforms. Among them was Bears safety Major Wright, a Miami native.
“Our legal team is reviewing the ad. In general, companies not affiliated with the NFL or its clubs may not depict a player in his uniform” said McCarthy.
Fair enough. While I can see why the NFL would want to take such a firm stance regarding the unlicensed, unauthorized use of its brand, it’s not like the players showed up at the event dressed in full uniform, although that would have been pretty cool. Further, perhaps the NFL shouldn’t take such a shortsighted position on this issue. NFL + Hardcore Porn? Imagine how much money the NFL could make on such a partnership. I mean, talk about an “untapped” market, so to speak.
NFL looks into porn event ad featuring Chicago Bear [WLS-TV]
Can anyone here say “ANAL RETENTIVE?” That’s this sounds like to me on the part of the NFL. I wonder if the league officials would have had the same if the event was a dual charity for the Ryan Whit and Matthew Shepard Foundations. They can’t come to an agreement on a decent contract for the real players of the teams, that excludes the highly overpaid stars, but they can spend time and waste money on whether there is a case for a civil suit; so the NFL can get more money and not share it with players.
Anyone else see a problem with this picture.
Yes! Yes they would. The NFL owns the logos and jerseys and brand. So unless you have their permission to use the brand, it’s off limits. I’m sure you’ve been 1000+ football games, right? So I’m sure you’ve heard the disclaimer given at the end of EVERY game: “The images, etc. cannot be shared without the express, written consent of the NFL.” This isn’t about porn, this is about the NFL being consistent in its rights to its brand.
Although I personally find nothing wrong with porn, it is a business like any other, the message that it sends to its younger audiences (under-age) may be misconstrued. I don’t believe the nfl was wrong in this matter. The only thing they didn’t want was the players to be in their uniforms. People would frown on fire, police or military personnel advertising an event along these lines in their uniforms also. it’s in their by-laws. They also are not allowed to endorse alcohol while they are in uniform. Obviously you would be willing to put your name on porn for everyone (including family) to see, that would also include under-age members of your family.
It is the kind of moral relativism that you display in your answer that is destroying this country and leads to ungodly leaders like Obama and our dear friend Mr. Weiner. Porn is simply exploitation of all involved – including those watching – the problem being we as a nation have become so morally reprobate that we can’t see the trees for the forest.
If your are referring to someone missing the point, try saying, “Can’t see the forest for the trees”. As for the NFL? They want nothing that diminishes their product. Period. What happened to the saying, “Any publicity good publicity?