I think we are on the same page overall too, just how much you trust MLS being the difference. I don’t trust them and you are way beyond me.

I hope you agree, and I hope it is correct, the fans have the power and because of that the fans will be happy with the outcome.

Also, power to defend a trademark…something as cut and dried as distinct images and a name, with years of well-documented history, is easy for any lawyer to defend, and frankly, the damage to MLS would outweigh the efforts to hold onto it. I don’t believe that letting the supports groups have it for free means a thing, because it belongs to them ALREADY. MLS would be better off letting the SG’s trademark it, pay them a small fee to license it, and then cut the SG’s in on a portion of any revenue that resulted from using the Cascadia Cup in promotions or merchandise. ESPECIALLY because the teams have absolutely nothing to do with the creation of the cup.

They come in and say here is the gig, we have a TM and it is yours, we will enforce it and there are many of other benefits of having MLS involved. A fan at SounderatHeart spelled them out in a very interesting piece….you should read it if you care about this issue.

Hopefully they will do that. As I said the people should have the power and if MLS screws with that…look out.

I guess I think the people have the power already in this situation. Maybe I am the one that is naïve.

In my opinion, the SGs getting the patent was meaningless anyway. Owning a trademark means nothing, you have to be able to enforce it.

I am ALL for the SGs owning this, but I think people might be jumping to conclusions about MLS. Maybe you are right, but I guess to me it doesn’t matter, the people have the power.

I am not sure why you are against MLS advertising the CC, but if they shouldn’t then all the SGs have to do is protest and MLS will stop in seconds, IMHO. You disagree ?

BUT…the 3 supporters groups need to trademark it NOW. They have all the evidence to back up their claim to the Cascadia Cup, so they need to act ASAP.

I’d be surprised if anyone thought MLS stood to make millions off the Cup. Personally, I think MLS wants to use the term “Cascadia Cup” to advertise the matches (hence my earlier comment about peddling “Rivalry Week”), and to do so in such a way that they don’t have to offer the supporters groups anything in exchange. That is patently unfair to the supporters groups who created the Cup.

I do think it was naive of the SG’s not to attempt to formally protect the brand before now, and maybe I’m naive as well, but I’m very surprised that MLS would attempt to claim something that isn’t theirs to claim, and the actual trademark application and official MLS response does nothing at all to convince me that this is anything but MLS getting busted.

I know if the 4 NE team supporters (Union – my team, NYRB, NE and DC) decide to actually develop a cup i wouldn’t want to see MLS try to budge in on it. I remember the big kerfuffle with the NFL, Saints and New Orleans over trying to trademark ‘Who Dat’ as the NFL wanted to be the only profiteer off of the phrase. I don’t see MLS as bullheaded as the NFL in those regards but it would leave the door open for them to become like that.

It really doesn’t matter if you think MLS had some grand plan to make their millions off it at this point.
They aren’t now. They won’t tick off the 3 best fans bases ( sorry to the rest of MLS if I offended ), which includes the massive amount of soccer’s greatest fans ( Sounders’ fans, no apology ).
Not going to happen now.

Soooo, this is a very good thing, no matter how cynical you are, no matter if you think MLS was going to kidnap babies in their grand scheme that was found out and revealed…….it is a good thing now.

Be happy it went down this way.

All three supporters groups OPPOSE the trademark claim by MLS and have formed a group to acquire US trademark rights.
http://www.weareecs.com/2013/cascadia-supporters-groups-oppose-mls-cascadia-cup-claim/
http://timbersarmy.org/cascadia-supporters-groups-jointly-oppose-major-league-soccers-claim-of-ownership-of-cascadia-cup-trademark
http://vancouversouthsiders.ca/cascadia-supporters-groups-jointly-oppose-major-league-soccers-attempt-to-trademark-cascadia-cup/

You ask us to have a little faith in MLS, that they somehow know the “correct” way to protect the Cup, when in actuality, MLS got caught with their hands in the cookie jar and now are backpeddling to try to cover their backs. This is a flat out attempt at theft by MLS and they’re busted. The supporters have been protecting the Cup since its creation. The supporters will continue to protect the Cup. It’s ours, always has been, always will be.

MLS – HANDS OFF THE CASCADIA CUP!