Trademarks: Can You Legally Make and Sell NFL Products in Your Craft Business?

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Football season is already in full swing, and you might be ready to start making personalized gear to show support for your favorite team (go Bears!).

Or, you may see listings online for gorgeous handmade items with NFL logos or team names. Before you start making and selling NFL products, you should know that it may not be okay for you to do so.

Today on Cutting for Business, I’m going to answer this question: “Can I make and sell NFL items?“

My answer: “No, you can only make NFL items if you are licensed by the NFL to do so.“

Follow-up question: “How are handmade product sellers on Etsy doing it?“

My answer: “Illegally.“

Trademarks: Can You Legally Make & Sell NFL Products in Your Craft Business? - cuttingforbusiness.com

What is Trademarked to the NFL?

The NFL explicitly states these items are trademarked:

“The NFL Marks include, among others, the NFL shield, the words SUPER BOWL and PRO BOWL, the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl logos, and the team names, nicknames, colors, symbols, emblems, helmet designs and uniform designs.”
Source: NFL.com

Requirements to Get an NFL License

The NFL has several criteria that must be met before a license is issued (source). These include:

You must have 3 years of business experience.
You must be the manufacturer.
You must prepay a royalty guarantee (approximately $100,000).
You must carry commercial insurance policies in the amounts of $6 million and $12 million in liabilities.
You must submit the pre-qualification application with business, banking, and tax return information.
You must attach annual reports, product catalogs, and credit references when submitting your application.

Where to Fill Out an NFL Licensing Application

To start an application for official NFL licensing, visit IMG Licensing.

NFL Player Licensing

If you are interested in licensing individual NFL players (their name, number, likeness, signature, or voice), you can apply for licensing through the NFL Players Association.

While it probably isn’t attainable for the average craft business to become licensed to legally sell NFL products, you can still create handmade football gear themed around your favorite team.

Use general sayings or designs. For example: words like “football”, a football design, the silhouette of a football player, or a goal post design would be okay to use.
Do not use the team name or NFL names in your design, listing, or description.
Football related sayings like “Football Mom”, “Keep Calm and Tackle Hard”, and “Eat, Sleep, Play Football” are all okay to use.
Football shaped monograms or swirly/embellished football designs are okay to use.
You can use player numbers, but don’t mention the player, in your design. The NFL has no way to file against you for solely using a player number.
Using patterned or other printed vinyls can add interest to “boring” designs.

What Happens If I Sell NFL Products Without a License?

If you don’t want to get licensed and still want to sell NFL items, you should know that if you are caught by the trademark holder (the NFL), your store or shop can be shut down. Additionally, you can be forced to pay back all monies made from the items, your supplies could be confiscated, and you can be prosecuted for trademark/copyright infringement.

Unfortunately for small sellers, big corporations have far more resources to legally pursue you and you will not win the battle. It’s worth noting that the NFL is active on Etsy and listings that infringe their trademarks are regularly removed.

College & University Licensing

While it may be too much for craft businesses to get licensed to legally make and sell NFL products, many colleges and universities have crafter’s licenses and programs.

Christine Schinagl, Cutting for Business

Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.

cuttingforbusiness.com

Jean

Tuesday 9th of January 2024

How do U report someone selling NHL, NFL, NBL items illegaly?

Friday 12th of January 2024

Generally, you can do a Google search for "Report trademark infringement + NHL (or whatever keyword)." The top result is usually the reporting form. Additionally, stopfakes.gov is helpful, too.

Kyle

Thursday 30th of November 2023

Hi Christine, would it be legal to sell products of engravings of a team stadium? I draw the stadiums from image taken from Google Earth and engrave on coasters. I would not be using any team logos on the coaster. What about including the stadium name in generic lettering?

Thanks!

Sunday 3rd of December 2023

Hi Kyle! Thanks for dropping into the blog. I actually do not know much about architectural copyrights. I know they have their own category - with information specific to architecture. Here is an article to get your research started: https://www.aia.org/articles/26591-understanding-the-scope-of-architectural-cop

Steve Schindler

Wednesday 22nd of November 2023

Just stumbled across this blog and wanted to say thank you. I was bored one night and decided to check out Etsy because of their commercials on Tubi. I was surprised at the number of NFL (specifically Green Bay Packers) items using not only team colors but logos and names as well. I am not an expert by any means but it has always been my impression that such use was illegal without the proper licensing. Now it is possible that some of these sellers have obtained the proper licensing but I doubt it is a very high percentage. In reading your blog I came across the following

Finally, someone has the guts to tell it like it is without hemming and hawing so again, Thank you.

Thanks for popping in Steve! I try not to mince words and just post the facts. :)

Kirsten

Friday 18th of August 2023

Is the zubuz pattern trademarked? I had that pattern on a buffalo from my own design that was flagged.

Thursday 7th of September 2023

A quick TESS search shows that the name Zubuz is trademarked.

gustavo

Wednesday 24th of June 2020

Hi Christine,

thank you so much for this article. The comments helped answer a lot of questions too. So thank you for posting this and thanks to everyone else for commenting.

my approach to this situation goes as followed: I sell sports stickers online ( mainly through word of mouth and geo-micro marketing) I haven't heard from any lawyers; yet. The way I see it is as long as I'm not putting a dent in the companies pocket and fly under the radar I can potentially be in the clear. mail call is probably the most stressful part of the day. I'm definitely not riding around in a Ferrari with the plates reading $ticker King but it paying some bills

can you please clarify the process if/when I'm caught? because I've had the impression that a company sends a cease a desist letter first as a warning.

as a small fish, I feel that I'm only worth getting a letter sent to rather than having a lawyer take me to court. it would probably cost them more then what they would get from my earnings lol. they can't catch every one!

Christine, Cutting for Business

Hello! First, I'd start with this post: https://cuttingforbusiness.com/6-trademark-myths-you-have-to-stop-telling-yourself-in-your-craft-business/. Pay attention to number 1.

To answer your question, no, Cease & Desist letters are not required and are only a courtesy. Plenty of companies will simply file a lawsuit and send you the details.

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