march madness in commercials

The More Things Change, the More They Remain the Same: Risks of Using or Accepting or Engaging in Advertising or Promotions that Use FINAL FOUR or Other NCAA Trademarks: 2025 Update – Part II

By Mitchell Stabbe|2026-03-18T09:14:46-05:00March 18th, 2026|Legal News|

Yesterday, I wrote about the history of the NCAA’s asserting the rights to an array of trademarks associated with this month’s college basketball tournaments. Today, I will provide some examples of the activities that can bring unwanted NCAA attention to your promotions or advertising, as well as an increasingly important development that should be considered... Continue Reading…

It’s March … Time for Madness!: Risks of Using or Accepting or Engaging in Advertising or Promotions that Use FINAL FOUR or Other NCAA Trademarks: 2026 Update – Part I

By Mitchell Stabbe|2026-03-17T08:59:39-05:00March 17th, 2026|Legal News|

Each year, as the NCAA basketball tournaments get underway, my colleague Mitch Stabbe highlights the trademark issues that can arise from uses of the well-known words and phrases associated with the games in advertising, promotions, and other media coverage. Here is Part I of his review. Look for Part II tomorrow. March is certainly a... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: March 10, 2025 to March 14, 2025

By David Oxenford|2025-03-16T13:04:19-05:00March 16th, 2025|Legal News|

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. On our Broadcast Law Blog, we discussed the trademark issues that can come up in advertising or promotions tied to... Continue Reading…

The More Things Change, the More They Remain the Same: Risks of Using or Accepting or Engaging in Advertising or Promotions that Use FINAL FOUR or Other NCAA Trademarks: 2025 Update – Part II

By Mitchell Stabbe|2025-03-12T20:48:23-05:00March 12th, 2025|Legal News|

Yesterday, I wrote about the history of the NCAA’s assembling of the rights to an array of trademarks associated with this month’s college basketball tournaments. Today, I will provide some examples of the activities that can bring unwanted NCAA attention to your promotions or advertising, as well as an increasingly important development that should be... Continue Reading…

The More Things Change, the More They Remain the Same: Risks of Using or Accepting or Engaging in Advertising or Promotions that Use FINAL FOUR or Other NCAA Trademarks: 2025 Update – Part II

By Mitchell Stabbe|2025-03-12T20:48:23-05:00March 12th, 2025|Legal News|

Yesterday, I wrote about the history of the NCAA’s assembling of the rights to an array of trademarks associated with this month’s college basketball tournaments. Today, I will provide some examples of the activities that can bring unwanted NCAA attention to your promotions or advertising, as well as an increasingly important development that should be... Continue Reading…

March Madness and Advertising: Use of NCAA Trademarks (2023 Update – Part 2)

By Mitchell Stabbe|2023-03-10T10:22:26-06:00March 10th, 2023|Legal News|

Yesterday, I wrote about the history of the NCAA’s assembling of the rights to an array of trademarks associated with this month’s basketball tournament. Today, I will provide some examples of the activities that can bring unwanted NCAA attention to your advertisements or broadcasting of advertising, as well as one more issue that should be... Continue Reading…

March Madness and Advertising: Use of NCAA Trademarks (2023 Update – Part 1)

By Mitchell Stabbe|2023-03-09T10:43:00-06:00March 9th, 2023|Legal News|

With Selection Sunday this weekend, the 2023 NCAA Collegiate Basketball Tournament is about to begin. As faithful readers of this blog know, broadcasters, publishers and other businesses need to be wary about potential claims arising from their use of terms and logos associated with the tournament. NCAA Trademarks The NCAA owns the well-known marks March... Continue Reading…

March Madness Trademarks: Avoiding a Foul Call from the NCAA (2020 Update)(Part 2 – Even if the Tournament is Off)

By Mitchell Stabbe|2020-03-13T07:49:53-05:00March 13th, 2020|Legal News|

While the NCAA has called off March Madness, promotions may still be continuing, and we certainly hope that the tournament will be back again next year. So we figured that, as this article was already written, we might as well publish it. Yesterday, we wrote about the history of the NCAA’s assembling of the rights... Continue Reading…

March Madness Trademarks: Avoiding a Foul Call from the NCAA (2020 Update – Part 1)

By Mitchell Stabbe|2020-03-12T10:56:06-05:00March 12th, 2020|Legal News|

With the NCAA Basketball Tournament about to begin (though without an audience at the games), broadcasters, publishers and other businesses need to be wary about potential claims arising from their use of terms and logos associated with the tournament, including the well-known marks March Madness®, The Big Dance®, Final Four®, Women’s Final Four®, Elite Eight,®... Continue Reading…