Who Owns "Who Dat?"

        If you were born and raised in Louisiana... we all thought it was our birthright, so to speak!  You know... the ol'  "Who Dat" slogan.  But not so according to the NFL! The NFL has issued a "cease and desist" order to all businesses carrying gear with the famous Saints phrase.  But does "Who Dat" even have an owner?  The Secretary of State's office says that will probably be detemined once the Superbowl is all said and done--by the courts.  What do you think?  Should the NFL have exclusive rights to the phrase "Who Dat?"  Or is it ours to use as we please in Louisiana?

Comments

[Robert]

who dat does nothing to promote the NFL...it is specific to the Saints...the NFL is way out of line on this...hooray for Senator Vitter for stepping up and challenging the NFL...i hope he is successful...all i got to say after that is "who dat"...go Saints win the Super Bowl

[linda prendergast]

that's like who's your momma? where u make groceries?,it's nawlins speak!

[Crystal]

"Who Dat" has been a saying that we have used since I was in Pre-K now that the Saints or going to the Super-Bowl with that phrase it's a problem. They want to clam the name so they may clam the money besides who are they to clam words people use everyday it wasn't a problem then so don't make it a problem now WHO -DAT!!!!

[Brandi]

I think the phase "who dat" is on of the most unique of all time! I was born and raised in new orleans.....and I thinks dat businesses all over the country should be able to sell the who dat gear and name. Why not? No one but the people own it. And saints.....you rock!!

[Mrs. Hall]

PLEASE !!!!!!!! If that's the case my grandmother should be getting paid! Every time someone would ring the doorbell, she would shout " WHO DAT". Next they will be trying to charge for saying "thank you".

[Shirley McKee]

"Who dat?!" went to the Superdome when Patterson High School went there for a playoff game back in the early '80's. It originated as a chant for football in the stadium in Patterson. Fox Channel 8 (Baton Rouge? Houma?) had a television spotlight on it's origin just before the Vikings-NO game in the Superdome a week ago. They've traced it back to a man there who chanted it regularly in the stands. It's documented in the Morgan City Daily Review (newspaper) back in the early '80's.

(Remember that Dalton Hilliard played for Patterson High School before his move to LSU and later to the Saints!)

How can WHO DAT possibly belong to the NFL? It's part of the Saints' Nation now! I agree with Senator Vitter!

[Michelle]

Who Dat is tryna take our talk? That is a form of broken english that has been spoken in these parts way before the NFL was even thought of! No one owns "Who Dat"!

[krw61278]

this is just another way for the NFL to line there pockets. WHO DAT has been around for as long as i can remember. the NFL does not own anything. we need to ban togther and back up our senator for his efforts. i know i will. its what my grandpaw would want me to do for him and on that note
WHO DAT!!!!!!!!!!!

[Moi]

What I, or anyone else "thinks" makes no difference.

As you said, the Secretary of State's office says that will probably be determined once the Superbowl is all said and done--by the courts.

[DatMe]

For many Years, some in government would Chastise Louisianan's For their Crude English
who are ruining the English Language The Laughing Stock of the USA.
Throw MONEY in, and it is a "GREAT" thing.
All Races, Religions, Educated and Non Educated have been using Language exactly like "Dat" for all of my 72 years.

[Anthony]

I agree with some other post that this just another way for someone to line thier pockets and get rich quick since noone owns a copyright to the saying. But there has never been anything said until now. Cept for when news said that guy started a copywright inthe 80's but did not keep it current. My oppinion is that to my knowledge it started with the Saint's with "Who Dat talkin bout beaten dem Saint's, Who Dat Who Dat" My oppinion is that it is a New Orleans and New Orleans Saint's thing and should stay there. Rather just let it be or the Saint's franchise own the copyright.

[JW]

The NFL and NFL network are nothing but a bunch of money hungry greedy people. If the Saints were 1- 15 you wouldn't hear a word out of the NFL about Who Dat now going to the super bowl they want their take. It is time to clip their wings and put them back in their place.

[Jake LeBrun]

The MFL, (L for lawyers, I'll let you figure out the rest) are just trying to make a buck. Let them go to court. I think a sane judge would decide that "Dat" is probably public domain. If not though, I may try to trademark "Y'all". If I had a nickel for everytime someone used that word!

(Go ahead and edit that if you want to broadcast it KPLC. I guess you don't want Acadian five-year-olds pestering their parents about what the MF stands for.)

[One Day in History]

A colloquialism cannot be franchised , this is idiotic , just what I expect from a league of overpaid morons. " What Dat Is " famous quote from Matu Flangue - The Wild Man of Grand Cheniere , answered by " Who Dat " Wow this IS really Important !

[PLLLease People !]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm ! matbe the " Who Dat " is a NFL trademark quote , the collective IQ of the league would be elevated by it's acceptance as player's norm of speech.

[Jimmy B]

The next time the fans yell..WHO DAT!!..they need to give the NFL their share...a middle finger salute..

WHO DAT!!...and here's yours NFL.. #@%$U!!

[Ed]

Another example of just how screwed up the system has become!

....Its time for some REAL change,,,,, like back to the way our founding fathers set it up!

[IMPEACH OBAMA NOW]

the slogan is and should remain to be used by us Louisianians like it always has been. If the Saints were not going to the super bowl, this wouldn't even be an issue! Probably some kind of back door deal involving Mary Landrieu....Go David Vitter, this time anyway!

[Jake LeBrun]

The NFL's new slogan, and apparent standard operating procedure:

"Sue Dat!"