NFL to claim the "Who Dat" chant?

[cindys_castle2011]

Anyone saw this yet?

It's ridiculous.. and I'm not just saying that because the Saints are my team. "Who Dat say they gonna beat dem Saints" has been said since my parents we're growing up.

It was said several years ago when they SUCKED. It was said a few years ago when they got into the playoff's. It was said in '05 when Katrina hit and the Saints went 13-3.

NOW that the Saints are going to the Superbowl the NFL wants to claim the chant, and sue any one who puts in on a tee shirt or any thing like that.

I was just in New Orleans Saturday and I saw "Who dat" EVERYWHERE! On tee shirts, flags, bags, lit up in lights on sides of buildings.. and I can guarantee none of those were from the NFL company.

Here's a letter that our Sen. wrote to the NFL Commissioner.

Dear Commissioner Goodell:

I was stunned to learn recently that the NFL is taking the position that it owns the exclusive trademark of the term "Who Dat" and has even threatened legal action against some mom-and-pop merchants selling t-shirts using the term. I would urge you to drop this obnoxious and legally unsustainable position and instead agree that "Who Dat" is in the public domain, giving no one exclusive trademark rights.

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.

"Who Dat" was probably first heard in New Orleans minstrel shows well over 130 years ago. Much more recently, but before it was used in connection with the Saints, it was used as a rallying cry by St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. In the 1980s it was adopted by Saints fans in a completely spontaneous way. Only later did any legal persons, including the Saints and the NFL, try to claim it through registration.

Perhaps more significant than this history, "Who Dat" has become part of New Orleans and Louisiana popular culture. For the NFL to try to claim exclusive ownership of it would be like me registering and trying to claim exclusive ownership of the terms "lagniappe" and "laissez les bons temps rouler!”

Under Paul Tagliabue's leadership, the NFL was an unbelievable partner in helping us recover and rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Thank you again. We look forward to your dropping your “Who Dat” position so that this partnership can continue without strain or blemish.

Sincerely,
David Vitter
Junior Senator of Who Dat Nation

What do you think?

 

[Stitch4Prez]

I don't think its right. Almost every sports team has there saying, and this is the first one I have seen having legal action against it. I know that "Who Dat" was made by the public. I think what makes it worse is that it is happening just as the Saints make the Super Bowl. I hope that everything can go back to normal, and I'm voting for the Saints to win.

 

[Stitch4Prez]

Double Post.

 

[MickeyisBeast]

That's crazy. Those people are just money-wanting maniacs. If I was a big fan, I'd be mad. I'm rooting for the Saints, so this annoys me.

 

[NateLovesNikons]

Anyone saw this yet?

It's ridiculous.. and I'm not just saying that because the Saints are my team. "Who Dat say they gonna beat dem Saints" has been said since my parents we're growing up.

It was said several years ago when they SUCKED. It was said a few years ago when they got into the playoff's. It was said in '05 when Katrina hit and the Saints went 13-3.

NOW that the Saints are going to the Superbowl the NFL wants to claim the chant, and sue any one who puts in on a tee shirt or any thing like that.

I was just in New Orleans Saturday and I saw "Who dat" EVERYWHERE! On tee shirts, flags, bags, lit up in lights on sides of buildings.. and I can guarantee none of those were from the NFL company.

Here's a letter that our Sen. wrote to the NFL Commissioner.



What do you think?

unfortunatly though, it doesnt matter who SAID it first. it matters who trademarks it first.

im in a marketing class and right now we are learning all about stuff like this.


its like when the seattle seahawks went to the superbowl . we started saying 12th man all the time cause we have THE LOUDEST stadium in the whole country. but it turns out that texas a&m TM the phrase a few years before we started saying it. luckily texas gave the seahawks the legal rights to use 12th man. probably since a&m is a college the seahawks are NFL. it shouldnt be much of a confliction.

 

[Sparx]

unfortunatly though, it doesnt matter who SAID it first. it matters who trademarks it first.

im in a marketing class and right now we are learning all about stuff like this.


its like when the seattle seahawks went to the superbowl . we started saying 12th man all the time cause we have THE LOUDEST stadium in the whole country. but it turns out that texas a&m TM the phrase a few years before we started saying it. luckily texas gave the seahawks the legal rights to use 12th man. probably since a&m is a college the seahawks are NFL. it shouldnt be much of a confliction.

its a pretty poor move on the saint's part to not have already trademarked and protected their chant.

 

[KidGoofy]

All I'm saying is I hope they don't trademark the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets chant when the Jets make the superbowl next year...lol

But I find that stupid. If its a state wide thing where they aren't the only ones to do it then I would be pissed.

And Nate, I'm pretty sure 12th man is used by every football, not just Texas A&M and the Seahawks. Its just a way to get the team involved. Just like the 6th man for basketball is the crowd.

 

[NateLovesNikons]

All I'm saying is I hope they don't trademark the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets chant when the Jets make the superbowl next year...lol

But I find that stupid. If its a state wide thing where they aren't the only ones to do it then I would be pissed.

And Nate, I'm pretty sure 12th man is used by every football, not just Texas A&M and the Seahawks. Its just a way to get the team involved. Just like the 6th man for basketball is the crowd.

dude google it. im taking a class on this stuff.

 

[crazytp93]

Poor job on the Saints part to not TM that already.

But, it actually wasn't the Saints who were the first to say the "Who Dat" chant.

It was Mets outfielder Ron Swaboda in 1983.