The Seahawks and Texas A&M University have settled their dispute over the use of the school's 12th Man trademark, both parties announced today.
The agreement resolves all of the issues presented in the school's lawsuit, which has been dismissed, according to a statement from the Seahawks.
In return for the Seahawks' acknowledgement of Texas A&M's ownership rights to the 12th Man slogan, the team can use the phrase in promotions and fan activities in the Northwest. That is, the team can continue its traditional raising of the 12th Man flag before games, and fans can still buy No. 12 Seahawks jerseys.
The Seahawks can essentially use the 12th Man anywhere, but have to acknowledge that the slogan is being used under copyright of the school when mentioning it in print or on a team-sponsored broadcast.
The team and university were set to go to court for a preliminary injunction hearing on May 18 in a Houston district court, but had been trying to reach a settlement.
The university began using the 12th Man slogan in 1922 and trademarked it in 1990. The Seahawks retired No. 12 in 1984 and have played up the 12th Man theme in recent years.
Texas A&M asked the district court for a temporary restraining order before the Super Bowl to keep the Seahawks from using the words. The Seahawks then filed a change-of-venue motion to move any court dates to the Seattle area from Texas.
The college is located in College Station, Texas, about an hour and a half drive from Houston. The Seahawks would not comment on the matter, and no one from the school returned phone calls seeking comment.
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