Although the Seahawks routinely use the “12th Man” phrase, Texas A&M continues to own the rights to it. The Seahawks have secured the ability to continue using the term without facing litigation from the Aggies.
Via the Bryan-College Station Eagle, the Seahawks will be paying a relatively paltry annual fee of $18,000. Previously, they paid an even more paltry $5,000 per year for the right to use the phrase, in addition to an initial, not-so-paltry $100,000 fee paid in 2006. The payment flowed from a dispute that arose after the Seahawks rose to national prominence during the 2005 season, which culminated in the team’s first-ever Super Bowl berth.
Under the new deal, the Seahawks have agreed not to use the “12th Man” phrase in social-media posts, and to remove the phrase “12th Man” from the stadium’s Ring of Honor. The team also will pay an extra $10,000 per year to fund the school’s efforts to enforce the federally-protected trademark, pushing the total financial obligation to $28,000 per year.
The Seahawks will primarily use “12" or “12s,” not “12th man.” As noted by the Eagles, the Bills paid $5,000 for the ability to place “12th Man” on the side of the team’s stadium. A dispute with the Colts resulted in litigation that was settled earlier this year, with terms not disclosed.
Texas A&M’s use of the phrase dates back to 1922, when injuries compelled the team to pull a fan out of the stands and put him in uniform. Like every other “12th Man,” the fan never actually played in a game. But the tradition began and, more importantly, Texas A&M eventually filed the appropriate paperwork to secure legal ownership of the phrase.
