Which organization owns the trademark for the term 'Super Bowl'?

The National Football League owns the trademark for the term “Super Bowl.” The NFL protects the name as a trademark associated with its championship game, related entertainment, broadcasting, merchandise, and promotional services.

The championship was first played in January 1967, when it was officially described as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The nickname “Super Bowl” was popularized after American Football League founder and Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt used it, reportedly inspired by the “Super Ball” toy. The league later adopted the name officially.

The first two games are commonly called Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II retroactively. Roman numerals became the familiar numbering system beginning with Super Bowl V in 1971, with exceptions such as the Arabic numeral used for Super Bowl 50.

A common misconception is that the NFL owns a copyright on the phrase. Copyright and trademark are different forms of intellectual property; the NFL’s control of “Super Bowl” is primarily a trademark issue. Broadcasters can mention the game, but businesses must avoid implying sponsorship without permission.