I don't think Miami loses anything if they lose the lawsuit - their full name is unlike Milan's full name. At worst, they lose and just go around calling themselves CFI Miami, which might have more of a cachet among american fans. If the fans start using Inter Miami as the nickname for the team, there's not much Inter Milan can do to stop them.
The article indicates that the term "Inter" is what's at issue here, which makes sense. "Inter" is a brand Inter Milan is trying to protect.
We have to think of this as a legal matter and not as footy supporters. (Footy supporters may automatically recognize the difference but would "reasonable person" think the same?) Whether they win the matter or not is another story but they have an argument.
Last edited by Mike_S; 04-05-2019 at 11:10 AM.
I don’t believe that Inter has been registered at the USPTO yet. I think they have filed, but Miami is opposing it (for obvious reasons). Admittedly, I am not following too closely. However, even if Inter is registered on its own, Miami can make the case that “inter” is not confusing with “inter Miami” to the target market.
if I want to start a clothing company and call it Fish, there is a good chance I can register a trademark (assuming all the other factors work in my favour) even though fish is a common word. If I want to open a fishmonger and call it fish, there is very little chance I can register a tm because it is descriptive of the wares. Now if you have a unique word, descriptiveness is less of an issue. Subtle point, but I feel like arguing
Sorry, but you’re wrong: https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/04/04...m-name-beckham
If you register a trademark you have to defend it. That’s how trademarks work. Miami bringing up Inter Turku is meant to show that Inter hasn’t vigorously defended their trademark previously, not that they can’t be confused.
If you say “Inter” in America, you mean the Milanese team, not Miami. Seems like that would be a pointless way to lose the case.
From the article you reference:
"Inter" is simply not yet a registered trademark in US.This is a central point in Major League Soccer’s legal attempt to block Italian soccer club FC Internazionale Milano—better known as Inter Milan—from gaining trademark protection for the word “Inter,” which it applied for in 2014 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
There’s a Tenorio article on TheAthletic regarding the buyout where he talks about the ownership’s real estate lobbying and the move being temporary. They’re definitely not intending to stay there forever, and unlike NYCFC they look like they actually want to improve the franchise’s situation.
Not for lack of trying, mind you. Getting land in four of the boroughs (I doubt NYCFC would build a stadium in Staten Island) for a football stadium is literally trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Chicago isn’t easy either, but certainly much easier than New York City boroughs.
All I'm going to say on this is I am REALLY looking forward to us screwing the Whitecaps as much as possible this year.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/ciaramccormack/status/1116428585982513152
https://www.theguardian.com/football...P=share_btn_tw
I didn't watch this season any other MLS games except all the TFC ones, but just looking at all the results and the standings it seems to me that this year the West is much more full of quality than the East.
Or maybe just the East teams (the supposed to be good ones) had a very weak season start?
What do you guys think?
Been following this mess since the original post on twitter. The VWFC seem to have a firm grip on the BC press that this story is leaking out instead of flooding out with a tidal wave. Glad to see it is getting into full view now and hopefully see some action in sorting this out.
Supporters groups getting involved
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/VancouverSun/status/1118316358675116034
Good to see the supporters groups getting involved.
More info out now: https://www.theguardian.com/football...ch-allegations
The club gave Birarda an apartment in the same building where the girls from out of town were staying, even though Biranda had a house in the area? That's just sick, and shows team/corporate involvement in the abusive environment.
Whitecaps had an "ombudsman" investigate the allegations in 2008, but none of the affected players were interviewed at the time? Nuts.
Coastal FC, where Birarda continued coaching young women, claim that Whitecaps and Canada Soccer never told them about the reasons for dismissal from his previous positions? Wow! But the Whitecaps team manager Diane Voice had warned Coastal FC before they hired Birarda, and they ignored her!
As an adult this sickens me.
As a parent this infurates me.
As a coach of teenage girls this saddens me.
So VCWC keeps saying it didn't do anything because an investigating obudsman didn't made any recommendations.
CBC reporter did some digging.
Turns out the ombusdman didn't make any recommendations because she was hired to investigate & provide facts - not to provide recommendations.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/CBCLarsen/status/1118687372294545409
This keeps getting sleezier & sleezier.
In nicer news for the league
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/JeffreyCarlisle/status/1119013653934592001
I’m actually not sure this is good news. Remember the articles we all sloughed off saying MLS is essentially a Ponzi scheme, addicted to the expansion fees? I’m starting to think there is some truth in that. MLS can’t resist any ownership group with a stadium render and the money for the expansion fee. Is that much expansion good, especially when a fair number of teams really aren’t that successful in their markets?
But because of the structure of the league, when most teams are successful, they all are (in a weird way).
Besides, once they went past 20 teams, they basically had to keep pushing toward 36 - 40 to restore balance. Either MLS 1 & 2 with pro-rel, or Eastern and Western conf. that basically function as separate leagues, with the winners playing for the Cup.
They can't stay at 28 teams with an imbalanced schedule indefinitely.
30 teams, 5 divisions of 6 teams. You play your division twice, and everyone else once. Top 3 in each division go to the playoffs except one (or you add one more team, and go 16). Only way this works out schedule wise.
TFC
Montreal
NY Red Bulls
NYCFC
New England
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sporting KC
St.Louis
Chicago
Nashville
Minnesota
Atlanta
Orlando
Miami
DC United
Columbus
Cincinnati
Auston
Dallas
Houston
RSL
Phoenix?
Sacramento
LAFC
LA Galaxy
Seattle
Vancouver
Portland
San Jose
It just seems to be too many teams for me. Does this mean pro/rel is coming soon?
They will set it up NBA Style:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division: NER, NYRB, NYCFC, Philadelphia, DCU
Central Division: Montreal, Toronto, Columbus, Cincinnati, Chicago
Southeast Division: Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte/Raleigh/St Louis
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Northwest Division: Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, RSL, Colorado
Pacific Division: Sacramento, San Jose, LAG, LAFC, Phoenix/St Louis
Southwest Division: MinnU, SKC, Dallas, Houston, Austin
Notice this doesn't leave enough room for one of the favoured clubs. I'm betting that 30 is a placeholder and that they'll announce expansion to 32 clubs just before the 30th club is picked.
Last edited by Initial B; 04-19-2019 at 08:17 AM.