Post by 50yardfan on Aug 4, 2011 9:07:56 GMT -5
www.lmtonline.com/articles/2011/08/04/front/sports/doc4e3a0563410bb288772660.txt
They are the Laredo Rattlers no more.
Five days after revealing his franchise’s team name and logo, team president Chad Dittman was ordered by the Arena Football League to “cease and desist” use of the name “Rattlers.”
Dittman confirmed Wednesday that the new team name is “Rattlesnakes.”
The AFL said Dittman cannot use “Rattlers” since it is trademarked by one of its organizations in Arizona.
“They will have to change it,” said Wes Friedman, spokesman for the AFL. “I don’t think there’s anything else to say, other than that the AFL has trademarked ‘Rattlers’ and this meets the legal test. We told Mr. Dittman to cease and desist.
“If not, we’ll go through the legal system.”
Dittman said he was not interested in going through the courts.
“According to my attorney, we could challenge, but it would take awhile for the courts to make a decision,” he said. “And within a year, I don’t want to change the name. I’d rather do it right now.
“The name basically stays the same.”
All that would change is the primary logo – which would have smaller lettering, but otherwise remains the same – and the end zone logo.
The helmet logo – an “L” with a rattler draped over it – and the colors stay the same.
Dittman said the new logo would not be ready until next week, when designer Keith Flynn returns from vacation.
“It’ll be difficult for me to release a new logo without him,” Dittman said. “Once I see the new logo and how everything looks, we could make the official (logo) change.”
The renamed team web site – laredorattlesnakes.com – is already live, Dittman said. And though it’s essentially a minor obstacle in the whole scheme of things, it was all in all a frustrating change of events.
“Obviously it’s disappointing, because we worked hard to create something,” Dittman said. “I don’t think the name competes in any way whatsoever (with the Arizona franchise), being in a different state and a whole different league.
“That’s why you trademark something, to keep someone from competing, and I don’t feel we are.”
They are the Laredo Rattlers no more.
Five days after revealing his franchise’s team name and logo, team president Chad Dittman was ordered by the Arena Football League to “cease and desist” use of the name “Rattlers.”
Dittman confirmed Wednesday that the new team name is “Rattlesnakes.”
The AFL said Dittman cannot use “Rattlers” since it is trademarked by one of its organizations in Arizona.
“They will have to change it,” said Wes Friedman, spokesman for the AFL. “I don’t think there’s anything else to say, other than that the AFL has trademarked ‘Rattlers’ and this meets the legal test. We told Mr. Dittman to cease and desist.
“If not, we’ll go through the legal system.”
Dittman said he was not interested in going through the courts.
“According to my attorney, we could challenge, but it would take awhile for the courts to make a decision,” he said. “And within a year, I don’t want to change the name. I’d rather do it right now.
“The name basically stays the same.”
All that would change is the primary logo – which would have smaller lettering, but otherwise remains the same – and the end zone logo.
The helmet logo – an “L” with a rattler draped over it – and the colors stay the same.
Dittman said the new logo would not be ready until next week, when designer Keith Flynn returns from vacation.
“It’ll be difficult for me to release a new logo without him,” Dittman said. “Once I see the new logo and how everything looks, we could make the official (logo) change.”
The renamed team web site – laredorattlesnakes.com – is already live, Dittman said. And though it’s essentially a minor obstacle in the whole scheme of things, it was all in all a frustrating change of events.
“Obviously it’s disappointing, because we worked hard to create something,” Dittman said. “I don’t think the name competes in any way whatsoever (with the Arizona franchise), being in a different state and a whole different league.
“That’s why you trademark something, to keep someone from competing, and I don’t feel we are.”