Disco Volante
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2007
- Messages
- 6,725
- Reaction score
- 971
NFL orders shops to stop selling 'Who Dat' gear
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.
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.