News
NORAD Tracks Santa now trademarked
Posted: Dec 22, 2012 10:24 AM by Matt Stafford
Updated: Dec 22, 2012 10:26 AM
PETERSON AFB (AP) - The military command that protects the skies over the U.S. and Canada is also protecting the name of its famous Santa-tracking operation.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command has trademarked NORAD Tracks Santa and licensed a private company to sell official T-shirts and other gear.
NORAD says the goal isn't to make money but to keep profiteers from cashing in.
NORAD began tracking Santa in 1955 when a newspaper ad listed the wrong phone number for kids to call Santa. They wound up calling the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD's predecessor. Both commands have been based in Colorado Springs.
Last year, NORAD Tracks Santa answered 102,000 phone calls on Christmas Eve. Its website attracted 18.9 million unique visitors from 220 countries and territories in a December alone.
To visit the website, click here.
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