Marshawn Lynch trademarks “I’m just here so I won’t get fined”

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 31, 2015, 7:03 AM EST
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Not only did Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch not get fined for his Super Bowl Media Day performance, but he may turn it into a lucrative money-making venture.

Lynch famously answered all questions with “I’m just here so I won’t get fined” before last year’s Super Bowl, and now he has been granted a trademark on that phrase. Lynch applied for the trademark in February, shortly after the Super Bowl, and on Tuesday the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the trademark.

Lynch also owns the trademark on “BeastMode” and sells shirts with his trademarked terms on them.

On the field, Lynch hasn’t done much this season, carrying 111 times for 417 yards and three touchdowns. Lynch has missed the last six games, but the Seahawks are hoping to get him back for the playoffs.

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34 responses to “Marshawn Lynch trademarks “I’m just here so I won’t get fined””

  13. Can’t fault him for maximizing his revenue opportunity.
    If folks have a problem with him – don’t buy his merchandise.

    Not a Seahawks fan, I root for the niners but he is the one player on that team (other than Kam) I have most respect for.

  16. Marshawn Lynch has run his course and is growing old. He should trademark “Bitch-mode” because he has been that more than “Beastmode” this year. Perhaps I will trademark Bitchmode and make me some money. Unfortunately, I have to refuse to talk to the media to get them chasing me for my tidbits of ignorance. Stupid people chase after stupid people.

  19. Stupid publicity stunt.

    Trademark law is designed to prevent people from making money off of another’s work without paying them.

    It doesn’t prevent, say, another player from saying it in a press conference or on TV. It only prevents them from trying to profit from saying it or printing it.

    And how, exactly, would anyone else make money with that phrase? Taken out of context, it’s not even particularly original or funny.

  21. As of late it should be… Im just here sitting on the bench to get paid.

    His team needs him more now than ever with his cap hit injured or not he should have his sorry behind in the rotation. If he doesn’t help the Hawks get to where they need to be then expect him as a cap casualty for sure.

  25. ctiggs has a point–you never know how lucrative it could become.

    Pat Riley trademarked “three peat” in the early 90’s after everyone was using it (the Bulls started going back-to-back-to-back) and he gets proceeds no matter where it’s used. He’s made a lot of money off of it.

    Lynch knows that his twilight is here and is preparing.

  28. If he didn’t trademark it, people would call him stupid. He does the smart thing and turns it for a profit and people call him greedy or washed up. What is it with you people? He could literally walk on water and you’d find a way to criticize him! Ridiculous really.

  29. I see we have a 3 year fan above me. He has a job, he gets paid for that job, part of his job is talking to the media. If he cant do his job he should be fired and not allowed to play until he conforms to the rules. IF any of us regular folks refused to do part of our jobs we would be fired immediatly. Spoiled little bitcH, is what he is. Just like AP, when they dont have a Offensive line they suck.

  31. It is true that Lynch is getting very near to the end of his RB Career in the NFL. It is also true that he has found a way to make money from his reluctance to play friendly with the media as expected by most star NFL players…..What is most importantly true is that he is very much needed in order for the Seahawks to make a run in the upcoming playoffs and that if they were to find a way back to the SB…….heck, this trademark will be worth a great deal……

    Seems like a good business move/deal to me. One that if the NFL owners had done, no one would have argued it was self-serving, but logically the right step to take.

  32. lukedunphysscienceproject says:
    Dec 31, 2015 8:56 AM

    Stupid publicity stunt.

    Trademark law is designed to prevent people from making money off of another’s work without paying them.

    And how, exactly, would anyone else make money with that phrase?
    ————————–
    Exactly? The most visible has been t-shirts, but the rest of us have also seen hats and other merchandise…meaning someone other than Lynch was making money off of that phrase.

  34. greggfletch1 says:
    Dec 31, 2015 10:34 AM

    “I see we have a 3 year fan above me.”

    ****************

    You see how you are? The first words out of your mouth were critical. I’ve actually been following football since 1969, SB III, Joe Namath and the Jets, AFL vs NFL before the leagues merged. In other words…football before the whole league was centered around pleasing the media. I don’t care who does/doesn’t talk to the media. And I admire those players who think ahead to the days when they’re no longer able to play. Go Beast!

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