OT: NFL orders shops to stop selling 'Who Dat' gear

[Disco Volante]

NFL orders shops to stop selling 'Who Dat' gear

Two weeks ago, Thom got a cease and desist order from the NFL.

“They're telling me not to print anymore shirts and to get rid of the inventory that I have because it says the words 'Who dat' and it has a gold fleur de lis on the shirt,” she said.

But Thom’s t-shirt isn’t the only one the NFL has a problem with. Storyville t-shirt shop also got a cease and desist order for two of their t-shirts. “I really thought the 'Who Dat' was something that belonged to the people more than to the Saints or to the NFL or anything else,” said Storyville co-owner Josh Harvey.

According to NFL spokesman Dan Masonson, "Any unauthorized use of the Saints colors and other [marks] designed to create the illusion of an affiliation with the Saints is equally a violation of the Saints trademark rights because it allows a third party to 'free ride' by profiting from confusion of the team's fans, who want to show support for the Saints."

How do you claim an international symbol that's been around longer than America, and a phrase invented by the residents of a city?

Ridiculous greed, forcing small business to stop selling T-shirts with a phrase the town created.

 

[blackglass3]

It's getting worse and worse...did the NFL not make enough money this year between what they make from advertising, the exclusivity deals with Reebok and EA Sports (and I am sure other companies I don't know off the top of my head), and the other billions of merchandising deals they have in place? Now they actually feel the need to profit off of a saying the Saints fans and players like to chant? It's disgusting.

 

[FortressX]

Don't be mean to the NFL.
Let's just all be excited looking forward to "The Big Game".

 

[upstater1]

Fleur de lis = NOT NFL property
Who Dat = NOT NFL property
Fleur de lis + Who Dat = NOT NFL property
Gold&Black Fleur de lis = Maybe NFL property?

 

[blackglass3]

Hmm...Lil' Wayne was prosecuted by NY and will be going to jail soon. Lil Wayne has a fleur de lis tattooed on his cheek. Roger Goodell is a lawyer who lives in NY.

Theorum: Lil Wayne is going to jail for not heeding the NFL's Cease and Desist order about removing the Fleur De Lis before being on television, record, or photographed; seeing how that is NFL Property.

The gun charges are a cover up...I might be on to something here.

 

[Seymour93]

The No Fun League strikes again.

 

[Gwedd]

The crux of the matter is the "gold & black" Fleur des Lis symbol. All the T-shirt hawkers have to do is modify the Fleur-des-lis design slightly from that which the Saints use, and they'll be back in business.

The motive driving these C&D orders is the requirement that a business, any business, MUST act in a positive manner to protect copyright and trademark, and other intellectual property, or risk having them lose their proprietary ownership and the item(s) in question become free for anyone to use.

 

[Brono]

I wonder if the Saints should move to a more unique, visually distinct logo, like many other NFL teams?

 

[sebman2112]

If it's the Fleur des Lis symbol, exactly as the Saints have designed their logo, than it is in fact copyright infringement. If the shirt simply said "Who Dat", then I don't think the league would be able to do anything, as I don't believe they have that particular phrase copyrighted. Then again, Paris Hilton has the copyright to a phrase that was around before she was born, so the NFL execs might have claimed the phrase. It would be a pretty pathetic move on their part, but it wouldn't be the first time they've pulled something like that, either.

 

[Tunescribe]

Who Dat = NOT NFL property

No, but it's terrible grammar.

Fleur de lis + Who Dat = NOT NFL property
Gold&Black Fleur de lis = Maybe NFL property?

The NFL is going after "intent," and that's really hard to argue with. It's obvious that anyone combining the fleur de lis in black or gold with "Who Dat" on a shirt is selling a Saints item.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Yeah, a visually distinct logo would be a good idea.

 

[Seymour93]

Yeah, a visually distinct logo would be a good idea.

All that would do is piss off the fans. The Saints have some of the best uniforms with one of the best logos in the league.

 

[tombonneau]

Don't be mean to the NFL.
Let's just all be excited looking forward to "The Big Game".

You know they even tried to trademark The Big Game? Not even kidding.

 

[blackglass3]

You know they even tried to trademark The Big Game? Not even kidding.

I remember that. After that, what were we supposed to call it? I think they also tried to trademark "Super Sunday" because stores like Macy's was using the term for sales on the day of the Super Bowl.

It's getting to the point where I am expecting a contract to come in the mail when I order a jersey, saying I won't wear it in a derogatory way or do something illegal while wearing it that discredits the NFL or the Shield Logo.

 

[Sivy]

Good..."who dat" sounds fu#ing retarted any way.

 

[RyanP421]

All that would do is piss off the fans. The Saints have some of the best uniforms with one of the best logos in the league.

No they don't. Their logos are cool, but having unis that are mostly black is hardly a great uniform.

 

[spacecrime]

Good..."who dat" sounds fu#ing retarted any way.

This is so much funnier than you intended.

 

[scout]

Good..."who dat" sounds fu#ing retarted any way.

I'm glad you brought that up, because I agree with you 100%.
Don't get me wrong, love N'Oleans, got married there.........ok, maybe don't love it that much. But great food, music, parties, and history.
What was that chant that was going around a number of years back. Now, that was a big WTF?

 

[Nikolai]

I'm glad you brought that up, because I agree with you 100%.
Don't get me wrong, love N'Oleans, got married there.........ok, maybe don't love it that much. But great food, music, parties, and history.
What was that chant that was going around a number of years back. Now, that was a big WTF?

Whoop, there it is?

I know that came from a song, but I seem to remember that the phrase came to be associated with the Saints and maybe Anderson in particular. I could be wrong. It was something close to seventeen years ago, concerning I team to which I didn't really pay attention.

 

[patsfan-1982]

who cares ( who dat ) sucks and it's not even original. i could be worng but i rember the bengals saying this like 4 years ago i don't ever rember the saints saying it maybe because they never won and every team in the NFL was who dat. lol but any ways i hate it.