Memo to the NFL...F DAT!

[Oyster]

Dear NFL:

Who Dat!?

You don't own it! And you can't have it!

Yours truly,
The Who Dat! Nation
****************
WWL showed the clip referenced in the article with Paulsen and Aaron this am.
As the article says, it is a very gray area to me.

I wonder if Hebert will get a letter? Ronnie Lamarque? Everyone in the city?

link:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Whoownswhodat-82841572.html

[JRO]

F DAT

Nobody owns WHO DAT

[flyinbayou]

That's a terrible road for the NFL to take, especially in the midst of this amazing feel good story that we are in the midst of.
I understand the "nipping it in the bud" attitude that Goliath corporations take against the David's, but this is an exponential overstep on the NFL's part.

If they want really see the passion of the Who Dat Nation (am I allowed to use that reference??) then let them continue down this road.
I am pretty sure they don't own the phrase "F@@K the NFL! We ARE the WHO DAT NATION!!"

How would they like to see that printed on shirts and the crowd proudly wearing them during broadcast games next year?( And I am guessing we will have no less than 4 nationally televised games next year)

[bam bam]

If the merchandise doesn't have Saints or the Saints trademark Fleur de lis, the NFL cannot do anything. There is no basis to claim ownership to an expression that has been around since the 1890s and does not mention the team.

[NoNoNanette]

If the merchandise doesn't have Saints or the Saints trademark Fleur de lis, the NFL cannot do anything. There is no basis to claim ownership to an expression that has been around since the 1890s and does not mention the team.

You're our resident attorney, Bam.... BUT.... how in the hell can the NFL claim our Fleur de lis????? (I can see if it were shown on a Saints Helmet, but not the logo itself.... right????) :confused:

[Mrs. Fury]

You're our resident attorney, Bam.... BUT.... how in the hell can the NFL claim our Fleur de lis????? (I can see if it were shown on a Saints Helmet, but not the logo itself.... right????) :confused:

I was thinking about that. Isn't that like trying to own the rights to a circle or a square?

[bam bam]

In 2007, I paid the New Orleans bar association $300 for the privilege of knowing this information. The saints fleur de lis is significantly different in design from other fleur de lis. Hence, they are able to claim ownership of the logo on the helmet.

I learned this at a CLE given by the Saints general counsel. That is the extent of my intellectual property law knowledge. But I can help you if your kid gets caught with a dime bag at Lusher.

[NoNoNanette]

Thanks, Bam. :bow:

[Jerry]

Hey Bam,
Can I trademark...SCREW DAT!

[Low-N-Slow]

Considering how aggressively Toys 'R' Us pursued anyone using 'R' Us, or even just 'R', one would expect the NFL to now pursue the use of "DAT" in all forms and variations.

[edible complex]

I'm suing, Who Dat, the NFL for giving me Who Dat tourettes with their patented, Who Dat, phrase. I can't stop, Who Dat, the repetitive blurting out of Who Dat. I have huge, Who Dat, medical bills thnx to the, Who Dat, NFL. Who Dat. I smell a Who Dat class action. anyone else, Who Dat, suffer from Who Dat tourettes? Who Dat?

[Titchou]

So, Bam, you are saying that a tee shirt/cup/etc with any other Fleur de Lis and "Who Dat" would be acceptable? Just that the Saints style one is not?
Correct?

[bam bam]

That would be my take. The NFL may view things differently. The non-trademarked fleur de lis does need to be substantially different from the Saints trademarked logo though.

[EatinAintCheatin]

Check out Senator Vittor's letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:

"This letter will also serve as formal legal notice that I am having t-shirts printed that say "WHO DAT say we can't print Who Dat!" for widespread sale in commerce. Please either drop your present ridiculous position or sue me."

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/01/vitter_to_nfl_back_of_who_dat.html

[NoNoNanette]

Check out Senator Vittor's letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:

"This letter will also serve as formal legal notice that I am having t-shirts printed that say "WHO DAT say we can't print Who Dat!" for widespread sale in commerce. Please either drop your present ridiculous position or sue me."

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/01/vitter_to_nfl_back_of_who_dat.html

"SUE ME or I'll throw my diaper at you!!!!".
- D. V.

[RouxTheDay]

The NFL's repsonse to Vitter's letter:

http://images.bimedia.net/documents/nflwhodat.pdf

[edible complex]

I would still like to see Who Dat written in the sky over Miami during Super Bowl.

[Yvette]

OMG, what a perfect idea. We need to suggest that to some rich person.

[JRO]

Here's a good one for the NFL "BITE DAT"

Not
For
Louisiana

[bam bam]

AHEM. The NFL paid $750 an hour for this advice.

Contrary to public reports," the letter states, "the NFL has not sought to exclude all uses of the word 'WHO DAT' or the fleur-de-lis logo. Rather, the NFL has sent out narrowly targeted letters, challenging the sale of products bearing the the fleur-de-lis and 'WHO DAT' marks only when those products contain or are advertised using other trademarks or identifiers of the Saints."

I gave it for free.

If the merchandise doesn't have Saints or the Saints trademark Fleur de lis, the NFL cannot do anything. There is no basis to claim ownership to an expression that has been around since the 1890s and does not mention the team.

It pays to subscribe.

I pretty much pushed the bounds of my knowledge of intellectual property law to bring these pearls of wisdom to you. So just imagine what I can do for you if you get caught by NOPD holding a bloody knife over a dead guy with a 8 inch hole in his chest.

[bigshot]

AHEM. The NFL paid $750 an hour for this advice.



I gave it for free.



It pays to subscribe.

I pretty much pushed the bounds of my knowledge of intellectual property law to bring these pearls of wisdom to you. So just imagine what I can do for you if you get caught by NOPD holding a bloody knife over a dead guy with a 8 inch hole in his chest.

Bam I promise I will never, ever forget your words of wisdom if I am caught with the 8" knife in the Big Easy.

[Oyster]

I judge attorneys by the number of "well rounded" daughters and the number of reality TV shows, high profile sports husbands/fiances, boutique shops, and camera loving GILF wives they have. Or had, as the case may be.

The late K-man leads the pack.

[Tom Thumb]

Hey folks! Just to show you how ridiculous this all is... In 1984(Orwellian, isn't it?) while running for the school board(yes, I know)in Little Rock, Arkansas, I ran across a junior high pep squad going to a football game with a team whose mascot was a Cub, and their incessant yell was...yep, you guessed it..
WHO DAT SAY DEY GONNA BEAT DEM CUBS!!!

Take that NFL and anyone else interested!

Who dat belongs to NO ONE! Just like Hello belongs to NO ONE! It is part of the American language! :rolleyes:

[flyinbayou]

Here ya go!
And here's a well done video compilation of the origin of Who Dat!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENaTx8_9hPI