Posted on 02/02/2010 10:48:16 AM PST by iloveamerica1980
With the Super Bowl set to kickoff this Sunday, the talk in New Orleans isn't about winning a Super Bowl. Instead, it's focused on the Who Dat? Who really owns it in the first place? I'm more interested in the game myself!
It would be pretty low for the NFL to actually attempt to copyright “Who Dat” or “Who Dey”, but it’s exactly the sort of thing those super control freaks would try.
Believe me, when the Super Bowl is over, nobody will really care who owns “who dat”. Maybe they should be more concerned with “another completion by Peyton Manning”. Think you will here that a whole lot.
The latest news is the NFL has backed off of prosecuting those that use the term “Who Dat”.
Big backlash has been brewing against the NFL from the fans.
Plus they were not the first to register the “Who Dat” slogan.
“Who Dat” belongs to any and all New Orleans Saint fans.
“Who Dat say the NFL is a bunch of Douche Bags, I DO, I DO”
Now, when there’s real money at stake in merchandising, the NFL steps in and tries to grab it.
‘Who Dat’ has been around since the ‘80s. It’s really owned by the fans if anything.
How about giving it to the Cheerleaders? ;-)
Sounds like Master P came up with this slogan.
late 1880s
If only to pay for the conference championship overtime...
Thanks, very familiar with the origin.
Next the NFL is going to be telling NOLA they own the rights to Mardi Gras or is that Al Gore who owns the rights.
or that they own football
Once the Saints win the Super Bowl, I think I’ll retire from ever supporting it in any way ever again.
Seems to be getting out of Control. NBA as well.
When does Badminton Season start?
The use of ‘who dat’ can be traced at least to the 1880’s or so.
Yea, women’s beach badminton, that the ticket!
The NFL needs to organize some muscle to accomplish this goal of theirs, I think that maybe a few of RIAA & BMI’s finest should be able to do the trick, sounds like it would be right down their alley.
LOL.
Worth tuning into.
Who Dat say dey own dat? Not NFL
League concedes it has no claim to fleur-de-lis, phrase
By MELINDA DESLATTE, Associated Press writer , Published: Feb 2, 2010Louisianas attorney general said Monday that local T-shirt makers dont need the NFLs permission to sell shirts with the phrase Who Dat, as long as they dont make other references to the New Orleans Saints or NFL.
Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said he had a conference call with the NFLs general counsel to discuss cease-and-desist letters some Louisiana T-shirt makers received from the league.
The letters demanded they stop selling shirts featuring the phrase thats part of a popular cheer by Saints fans, citing trademark infringement.
Theyve conceded and theyve said they have no intention of claiming the fleur-de-lis, which would be ridiculous, or the Who Dat, which would be equally ridiculous, Caldwell said in an interview. The fleur-de-lis is a traditional symbol of New Orleans thats featured on Saints helmets.
The NFL is objecting only to shirts that are marketed or presented as an official Saints or NFL product, Caldwell said. Shirts that are black and gold and say Who Dat can be sold, he said, if they dont purport to be Saints gear and dont include the team logo.
The chant Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints is often shortened to Who Dat on shirts and signs and has been a mainstay at the Superdome in New Orleans since the 1980s.
People can use Who Dat all they want if it doesnt include NFL and Saints trademarks, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote in an e-mail. We explained that we would contact merchants only if a Who Dat item also contained NFL or Saints trademarks or if it is falsely claimed that an unauthorized item is affiliated with the Saints or NFL.
The Who Dat spat has outraged many Louisiana residents and merchants, who argued the NFL couldnt claim ownership of a saying or symbol that predates the Saints, who will make their Super Bowl appearance Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Gov. Bobby Jindal asked Caldwell to look into a possible lawsuit if the NFL was attempting to declare ownership rights of the phrase.
GEAUX SAINTS!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.