The Seattle Seahawks sent a cease and desist letter the campaign of Republican candidate Tiffany Smiley, who is running for Senate in the state of Washington.
Seattle Seahawks via Seattle Seahawks YouTube
As noted by The Post Millennial, the Seahawks sent the letter on September 6th accusing the Smiley for Washington campaign of “making commercial use of trademarks and/or copyrights belong to Football Northwest LLC d/ba/ Seattle Seahawks (collectively ‘Seahawks Trademarks’) in connection with its ‘Game Day’ television ad.”
The letter further asserts, “Absent an agreement with the National Football League (‘NFL’) or the Seahawks, third parties are prohibited from using Seahawks Trademarks in any manner that may suggest that it is any way endorsed by, or otherwise affiliated with, the NFL or the Seahawks.”
“Given that the Smiley for Washington campaign has no such agreement with the NFL or the Seahawks, we must ask that it immediately cease its unauthorized commercial use of Seahawks Trademarks. This includes, but is not limited to, (i) immediately removing (or blurring) Seahawks Trademarks from the ‘Game Day’ ad on all platforms (to include, but not limited to, television, YouTube, websites, social media, etc.0 and (ii) refraining from further unauthorized commercial use of Seahawks Trademarks.”
Seattle Seahawks via Seattle Seahawks YouTube
The ad featured a short clip of Smiley’s husband, retired US Army Ranger Major Scott Smiley, wearing a Seahawks jersey that included the NFL insignia on its chest and the Nike emblem in green on its shoulder pad.
Smiley for Washington Game Day Ad via Smiley for Washington YouTube
The ad has since been updated with the removal of the NFL crest and the Nike logo. The green highlight on the jersey’s front number has also been either removed or heavily faded.
The Seattle Seahawks previously honored Major Smiley back in 2014 letting him raise the team’s 12th man flag.
They wrote at the time, “Major Scott Smiley, U.S. Army’s first blind active duty officer, will raise Sunday’s #12Flag.”
Seattle Seahawks Twitter
They then shared an image of Smiley flexing next to the flag.
Seattle Seahawks Twitter
While the Seahawks sent a cease and desist letter to the Smiley for Washington campaign, they seemingly fully endorsed Tarra Simmons, the current representative for the 23rd legislative district as she posted to her campaign page, “Hangin’ out with the Seahawks today and got their overwhelming support for my work to advance racial and social justice!”
Simmons added, “It was the validation I needed when my opponent has turned negative in desperation and spreads fake news. In the end, going negative only gets more support for the forces of truth and justice. When they go low, we go high and more support comes our way.”
Re-elect Tarra Simmons Facebook
YouTuber Ryan Kinel of Sports Wars lit into the Seahawks for the cease and desist letter saying, “They gave him that jersey, but now because his wife’s a Republican they’re doing everything they can to separate themselves.”
He further added, “This is the issue. When you start to get political as a league, but only one side is allowed that inherently drives people away. Well, that’s exactly what the NFL has been doing. It’s exactly what they’re continuing to do.
“And an action like this from the Seahawks is f***ing pathetic. A dude you had there eight years ago, back when that was the popular thing, to honor people who love and serve this country, when that was the popular thing to do. Well, now that’s not so popularized anymore is it? So now this is what the Seahawks are doing. This is f***ing gross,” he concludes.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions via NFL YouTube
What do you make of the Seahawks’ cease and desist letter?
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