NFL halting sales of 'Who Dat' merchandise, station reports

[cajuncocoa]

I have mixed feelings about this. I understand that the NFL has to protect its product. But Saints fans have been selling and wearing "Who Dat" gear since the 80s, and I guess that means no one needed the NFL's permission to do so. Now that the Saints are on the Big Stage in the Super Bowl, the NFL is taking a sudden (financial) interest.

On the other hand, is this the best time for Saints fans to get into a spitting contest with the National Football League?

WWL-TV reports that the National Football League is acting to protect its trademarks, including the phrase "Who Dat." Several shops and t-shirt manufacturers report getting cease and desist orders related to the production and sale of items with the iconic New Orleans Saints phrase.

~ NOLA.com

Related:
Despite NFL's claim, musician says he owned 'Who Dat' first

and

U.S. Senate candidates agree on 'Who Dat' controversy

By The Times-Picayune

January 29, 2010, 1:03PM

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and is Democratic challenger, Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, have found something to agree on: They both think the National Football League is out of bounds in claiming it has a trademark on "Who Dat."

Vitter is challenging the National Football League to back down from its claims or sue him, while Melancon has launched an online petition for fans to express their displeasure.

Melancon says: "The NFL is claiming that they own the phrase 'WHO DAT' and are sending cease and desist letters to local stores making merchandise bearing the phrase.

This is incredibly heavy-handed -- no one owns "WHO DAT" aside from the WHO DAT NATION!"

The Associated Press
"Who Dat" T-shirts on sale in the French Quarter.

Here is Vitter's letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Roger Goodell, Commissioner
National Football League
280 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10017


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

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Who Dat is easily the most annoying phrase ever

it means exactly nothing

 

[zrinkill]

I am so glad our public officials are spending time talking about "who dat"

 

[Rampage]

what came first the Bengals "who dey?" or the Saints "who dat?" ?

 

[zrinkill]

Who Dat is easily the most annoying phrase ever ..... it means exactly nothing

Its like the Bob Sucamano of the NFL world.

 

[cajuncocoa]

what came first the Bengals "who dey?" or the Saints "who dat?" ?

The Saints began using "Who Dat?" in 1983 when Aaron Neville incorporated it into a recording of "When the Saints Go Marchin' In"

[youtube]cMSu4dOIsbg[/youtube]

(At the end of the song, you can hear them singing "Bum, bum, bum, bum"...Bum Phillips was their coach at the time.

The Bengals claim they started using "Who Dey" in November 1981.

It's been my experience that the the Saints almost never do anything original, so I'm going with the Bengals' claim.

 

[WoodysGirl]

They can probably still use "Who Dat" but they probably won't be able to tie it to the Saints.

Maybe use, "Who Dat" and New orleans...

 

[Don Corleone]

NFL should leave the Saints alone on this one. They need to consider the size of the pie. Saints are a small market team. How many shirts can they possibly sell to equate to a sizeable amount of money worth pursuing this?

It isn't like the big market teams: Dallas, Patriots, Steelers, etc.

NFL should really not pursue this. Even the financial reasons make no sense. It can't amount to a lot of money.

 

[chuffly]

As long as they don't halt sales on 'We Dat' merchandise.

 

[thechosen1n2]

screw goodell...

 

[cajuncocoa]

NFL response to Sen. David Vitter

 

[Rampage]

The Saints began using "Who Dat?" in 1983 when Aaron Neville incorporated it into a recording of "When the Saints Go Marchin' In"

[youtube]cMSu4dOIsbg[/youtube]

(At the end of the song, you can hear them singing "Bum, bum, bum, bum"...Bum Phillips was their coach at the time.

The Bengals claim they started using "Who Dey" in November 1981.

It's been my experience that the the Saints almost never do anything original, so I'm going with the Bengals' claim.

yeah I also found this tidbit saying the Saints ripped the Bengals off too.


The Who Dey chant's first known use was by fans of the 1980 Cincinnati Bengals. It is similar to the phrase "Who Dat?" used by the New Orleans Saints since 1983. The chant of “Who dat? Who dat say they gonna beat dem - - ” originated in minstrel shows and vaudeville acts in the late 1800s and early 1900s, then was taken up by jazz and big band folks in the 1920s and 1930s, then was adapted by Southern University and the public schools in New Orleans in the 1960s and 1970s. There is a long-standing debate over which fanbase originated the chant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Dey

 

[cajuncocoa]

yeah I also found this tidbit saying the Saints ripped the Bengals off too.


The Who Dey chant's first known use was by fans of the 1980 Cincinnati Bengals. It is similar to the phrase "Who Dat?" used by the New Orleans Saints since 1983. The chant of “Who dat? Who dat say they gonna beat dem - - ” originated in minstrel shows and vaudeville acts in the late 1800s and early 1900s, then was taken up by jazz and big band folks in the 1920s and 1930s, then was adapted by Southern University and the public schools in New Orleans in the 1960s and 1970s. There is a long-standing debate over which fanbase originated the chant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Dey

I've lived in New Orleans all my life and I'd never heard the "Who Dat" chant until the Neville recording in 1983!

I'm neither a Bengals nor a Saints fan (duh!) so I don't have a horse in this race...but if the question is: which fan base originated the chant, I would probably say "New Orleans" (based on the information above).

But if the question is: which franchise (Bengals or Saints) originated, I would have to say "Bengals" based on the Wikipedia articles.

 

[Sarge]

Who Dat is easily the most annoying phrase ever

it means exactly nothing

Agree - I don't get it and don't WANT to get it - it's just stupid.

Whatev.

 

[Jon88]

All of the sudden the NFL claims rights to it. What a bunch of crap.

 

[WoodysGirl]

All of the sudden the NFL claims rights to it. What a bunch of crap.

They're not claiming rights to Who Dat. They're claiming rights to the use of the Saints colors and logo with the use of Who Dat.

People can Who Dat all day long as long as its not affiliated to the Saints.

 

[Jon88]

They're not claiming rights to Who Dat. They're claiming rights to the use of the Saints colors and logo with the use of Who Dat.

People can Who Dat all day long as long as its not affiliated to the Saints.

Ok. I'm glad I can still say Who Dat. It's my favorite phrase.

 

[VirusX]

So worried about children exercising but lets teach kids to say Who Dat...

Who Dat drunk my milk momma!?!

Great example...

 

[Jon88]

They're not claiming rights to Who Dat. They're claiming rights to the use of the Saints colors and logo with the use of Who Dat.

People can Who Dat all day long as long as its not affiliated to the Saints.

So worried about children exercising but lets teach kids to say Who Dat...

Who Dat drunk my milk momma!?!

Great example...

Let's not go overboard here or anything.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

I am so glad our public officials are spending time talking about "who dat"

Next thing you know they will be trying to work out the BCS thing.