Vegas casinos cancel Super Bowl parties (profit, not terrorism)

[Newsjock]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/apfootball_story.asp?category=2020&slug=FBN%20Super%20Disappointment

Vegas casinos cancel Super Bowl parties
By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
 
LAS VEGAS -- Casinos are canceling Super Bowl parties and handing out refunds to thousands of people after the NFL threatened legal action against some of the biggest hotels in Las Vegas.

Several hotels received letters this week informing them that their parties were "unauthorized use of NFL intellectual property." NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league recently became aware of these large-scale parties planned in Las Vegas and other locations around the country.

"These establishments were attempting to charge admission for something we are offering for free, and we believe that's a violation of a long-standing NFL policy that specifically prohibits mass out-of-home broadcasts," McCarthy said.

more

[Baclava]

1. Uh oh...

I guess every bar in town around here is in trouble too. Those $35 "open bar" SB parties seem to be the rage right now...

[ProudGerman]

2. Recently became aware of my ass

Super Bowl parties have been around almost as long as the Super Bowl. They just recently decided to be assholes about it though.

My local radio station is having a "Big Game Party" because they don't want to get sued.

Its also my understanding that the admission isn't for viewing the Super Bowl, which is broad cast freely, but for the party that surrounds it, ie, the food and drink and other entertainment.

Though I do gotta question how the NFL can regulate where exactly you are allowed to capture a broadcast. Its broadcasted freely and openly through the airwaves, how can they say when and where you are allowed to capture this broadcast? Secondly, shouldn't the company that has the rights to broadcast this be the ones complaining about it? They are the ones losing out because mulitple TV's aren't tuned into their broadcast because of the thousands who go to these parties to watch them on much fewer TV's (ratings). I mean, the NFL did sell those rights.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Wonder how their beer sponsers feel about this?

[Don_G]

4. The RIAA Infects The NFL

Must be a potentially taxable Worm or Virus going around the bars that BushCo can't profit from.