NFL Harasses Fan

It's been awhile without any posting action. I got hit with a nasty computer virus earlier this month and couldn't do anything for a few days. Had to eventually bring my PC into the shop for professional help and even they commented how embedded and difficult to remove it was. Then I got busy with a few screenplays I'm working on... and blah blah blah, I didn't end up doing a damn on the web for awhile.

Time to fill you all in on the latest chapter of The National Football League picking fights with it's fans. Amongst the pile of mail waiting for me upon returning from Peru in May was a FedEx envelope from the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton. I don't do any business with that firm so figured it was just some junk mail come-on and it stayed at the bottom of the pile for some time. When I finally did open it, the contents gave me a great laugh. They were complaining about my "unauthorized use of NFL trademarks" across my website. It went on to say they wanted a confirmation that I would remove all advertising or all NFL trademarks by May 17, 2006. That was only a day away from when I was reading this letter, so needless to say, I didn't confirm a damn thing. The funniest thing was that they included "Exhibits A & B" - printouts of my website, just in case I wasn't familiar with myself I guess.

Then today I got another letter; stating that they first wrote to me in February (these guys aren't very skilled with a calendar) and that they didn't receive a response by May 17th as they had requested. Check out the bit of law they want to hang me for "...prohibits any person from using, without authorization, a registered trademark in connection with the sale, offering for sale, distribution, or advertising of any good or services on or in connection with which such use is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive."

So I ask you citizens of the world - have you been confused or deceived by visiting afgrant.com? Have the photos and tales of my experiences at New England Patriot football games and Super Bowls caused you to click on some google ad or banner in some twisted state of delirium? If so, I apologize.

I thought being an NFL season ticket holder might give me the right to share my experiences. Guess I've been having non-league-sanctioned thoughts again. The gang at Debevoise & Plimpton reminds me that this "remains a serious situation" and they urge me to contact an attorney.

So if you're a hot shot attorney looking to make a name for yourself by protecting an NFL fan from the NFL, get in touch with me at af@afgrant.com