Ask SAM: Straight Answers

By: JournalNow Staff | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: January 31, 2012

Q: Our church is planning a free Super Bowl party. We're wondering what, if any, are the legal ramifications of using the term "Super Bowl"?

K.M.

A: "We do not have any restrictions for a church," said Brian McCarthy, the vice president of communications for the National Football League, in an email interview with SAM. "We only ask that religious organizations don't charge an admission fee for a game that is on free TV. If they want to take up a collection, that is up to the organization."

In the Broadcast Law Blog (www.broadcastlawblog.com), David Silverman, an attorney from Washington, explains, "When it comes to use of the trademarked term 'Super Bowl,' the NFL will take action against third-party attempts to use that term in a commercial sense, in other words, to sell goods and services using the term 'Super Bowl' in advertising."

These restrictions explain why you often hear the Super Bowl referred to as 'The Big Game' in advertisements, Silverman wrote.

And though you can't charge admission for a Super Bowl party, he added that "selling food and drink at the venue is permitted. In fact, that is pretty much what every bar in the U.S. will be doing on Super Sunday."

Q: I have sent a traffic law question by email to two captains in the Winston-Salem Police Department. Neither answered nor acknowledged my email. Do captains respond to such questions? If not, who should I contact?

G.L.

A: "I know that we do answer a variety of questions through emails," said Lt. Chris Lowder, a spokesman for the police department. "I would encourage the involved citizen to call the district captain directly to address the email response and make sure that the messages are reaching the proper destination."

The nonemergency number for the police department is (336) 773-7700.

It's possible that the emails got lost in a spam filter, Lowder said.

The Winston-Salem Police Department has various avenues of communication open to the public. The department's website has a section where residents can email police Chief Scott Cunningham. That link is at cityofws.org/Home/Departments/Police/Articles/Police.

You can also call the nonemergency number with a question, and a communications operator can direct you to the appropriate source within the department.

"For general city questions or services, citizens are encouraged to call City Link by dialing 311," Lowder said.