January 24, 2018 Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark

Texas A&M “12th Man” Copyright Suit Continues

On January 16, 2017, author Michael J. Bynum filed a motion in response to Texas A&M’s University Athletic Department, the Texas A&M University 12th Man Foundation, and three school employees (collectively Texas A&M), motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. According to the original complaint, in January 2014, Texas A&M posted on its website the “heart” of Mr. Bynum unpublished book, 12th Man: The Life and Legend of Texas A&M’s E. King Gill, “nearly word-for-word” without Bynum’s permission. Thus, according to …

August 31, 2017 Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark

Aggies Allegedly Violate Own Honor Code in “12th Man” Trademark Dispute

On January 19, 2017, an Alabama book editor filed sui against Texas A&M’s athletic department and the fund-raising 12th Man Foundation, accusing both entities and three school employees of posting the “heart” of his unpublished book “12th Man: The Life and Legend of Texas A&M’s E. King Gill” on its website “nearly word-for-word” in January 2014 without his permission. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Houston, begins by citing the Aggies Code of Honor, which states “An Aggie does not lie, cheat …

Trademark-Bullying Against Bills Fans

Texas A&M, the owner of the “12^th Man” trademark, filed two complaints against four Buffalo Bills fans who infringed on the trademark when they included the term in their website 12thManThunder.com. The fans may not have known, but the Bills have been paying Texas A&M licensing fees to use the term on the Bills Wall of Fame.

The story then became rather emotional than legal when it was known that one of the Bills fans is Charles “Chuckie” Sonntag, a double amputee who had …