Hi, I just started a league in which I would like to use NFL logos for each team's banner. Am I allowed to do this? I don't want to get anyone in trouble, especially JDB. I will use past and present logos, switch team cities to the 70's names, such as Boston, instead New England. Please advise. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure other leagues do this and I doubt the NFL even knows MFN exists.

That's what I thought but it's best to be sure. The NFL has bigger problems like refs fixing games!!! Lol

The simple answer is Yes.
As long as you ain't making money, copyrighted materials are free to use.
With songs, one is limited to 3 seconds for commercial purposes before having to pay for the rights - but those three seconds can be looped ad infinitum.
Words always require quotes and attributes.
Images are free to use unless monies are being gained.

YOU don't have any issues using nfl logos and images.

The long answer is:

JDB is directly liable and should look into image licensing and the eventual prohibition of licensed images and materials by copyright (NFL licenses are a bit on the expensive side).

JDB, however, gains what is considered to be "an indirect and/or direct income" from the use of such images via subscriptions that permit users to use official NFL images.

This includes the really great game posts from GDB. GDB can use the images, etc all he wants, but JDB can NOT make money off of such usage. GDB is a subscriber paying for customization, thus JDB is gaining income from that subscription. GDB has paid for the services of customization, uses official NFL licensed materials (legal BECUASE they are not prohibited by the game owner - aka inferred licensing/ownership).

In my current knowledge, JDB has not licensed any NFL images to be of use by MFN subscribers that pay for customization, and as the provider of such paid services, is the liable party should any issues of propriety ever come forward.

The magnus of licensing is upon the owner of the product. As such, so are any legal penalties regarding licensing - even when a customer uses any such licensed and/or copyrighted products held by any other entity outside of any licensing allotments, purchases, exemptions and or exceptions allowed and permitted to MyFootBallNow by the NFL, NCAA and any other licensed american football league (right down to YAFL).

Each of us are seeing how patents/licensing/images are being litigated and interpreted by the courts as the Las Vegas Baseball Team desperately tries to continue being called the Athletics. Such a case displays the how complex patent rights have become.

I've harped for years about the legal and licensing, truth in advertising, and culpability beholden to the owner for the usage of any comparisons, verbiage, likenesses, and images that directly or remotely relate to the NFL and it's copyrights and the eventual legal liabilities involved for MFN to continue as a "football Simulator."

Now, the NFL was incorporated in 1922, and patent renewals can not be held past 100 years.

The NFL re-incorperated with the AFL/NFL merger in 1966, thus holding all patents etc until 2066.
Unlike winnie the pooh and mickey mouse, the NFL has not let any of it's patents lapse.
There might be a wee bit o wiggle room when it comes to team-based licensing, but i doubt it.