KTBS 3 News | Shreveport, LA: ArkLaTex News - Who Dat controversy gets political

Posted: Jan 29, 2010 1:03 PM
Updated: Jan 29, 2010 4:35 PM

U.S. Sen. David Vitter today sent the following letter to National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the NFL's efforts to claim exclusive rights to the term "Who Dat":

January 29, 2010

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

Vitter's office says the t-shirts will be available by the end of the weekend. Here's the link for that, and to co-sign Vitter's letter.

Congressman Charlie Melancon also has a petition. Click here to sign it.

High + − !

Phil at Jan 29th 2010 2:23 PM

Amen Brother Vitter!!!! WHO DAT SAY DEY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS????

JACKIE at Jan 29th 2010 3:08 PM

WHO DAT SAY WE DONT CARE.GO DAVID VITTER.

Higher + − !

GUS at Jan 29th 2010 4:28 PM

Before the Saints were a NFL football team, people were saying "WHO DAT" knocking on my door.

KjR at Jan 29th 2010 5:04 PM

Yes Mr. Vitter, you will get all of my votes from this point on. WHO DAT GOING TO THE SUPA-BEAUXL!!!!!!!Thanks for making it clear to the NFL, Louisiana is the greatest state in the U.S.A.

Lower + − !

Th.D. at Jan 29th 2010 5:16 PM

I just think that it's sad our state wants to argue over a phrase of bad rhetoric. We already have the some of the lowest test scores and one of the worst educations systems in the nation, so why prove it with this argument?