The National Football League (NFL) has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), claiming that NORML is illegally appropriating the Pittsburgh Steelers logo.
The logo in question is essentially the same as the Steelers logo, with yellow, red, and blue marijuana leaves in place of the three four-pointed stars (which are apparently also known as “hypocycloids”).
From the NFL’s letter to NORML:
“As a result of your organization’s unauthorized use of NFL Marks to promote Pittsburgh NORML’s business, the public is likely to be misled into believing that Pittsburgh NORML and/or its products are authorized, approved, sponsored by, or are otherwise affiliated with, the NFL and/or the Steelers Club, when they are not. Moreover, such unauthorized use may cause dilution of the Steelers Club’s famous logo mark, and otherwise negatively impact [NFL Properties’] and/or the Steelers Club’s trademark rights.”
Not surprisingly, Pittsburgh NORML backed down, stating that they “have we have no stomach for a fight with the nation’s largest non-profit, the NFL.”
The NORML letter to the NFL also urged the organization “to reconsider its policy on the use of cannabis by its employees, especially medicinal use by players suffering from chronic pain,” and notes that “Cannabis is recreationally legal in three of your major markets –Washington, Colorado, as well as our Nation’s Capital, while medicinal marijuana is legal in 24 states, including your largest markets of California, New York, Illinois and the New England.”
Sources:
http://www.mjinews.com/nfl-asks-pittsburgh-norml-stop-use-steelers-inspired-logo/
Photo Credit: David Fulmer
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