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10-08-2005, 04:11 AM
MLB Files Against France
MLB Seeks damages
Attorneys representing Major League Baseball have filed a lawsuit against the Société Nouvelle d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SNTE) over the use of the Eiffel Tower, which resembles the logo used by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Filed on the team's behalf, attorneys claim that the lawsuit seeks to limit use of the Eiffel tower at night, from certain angles, and in foggy conditions, which might be used to mislead tourists into believing that the tower is associated with the Angels baseball team.
When asked if tourists in Paris are thinking about baseball, Angels' management seemed confident of the worldwide popularity of their team. Nearly 70 percent of southern California residents are now aware the Angels are based in the area after the name change to "Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim" in January.
Last month, MLB filed a suit against the Carver Academy in San Antonio for having a logo that has the same letters as the California Angels logo, last used in 1996. MLB filed to defend the marketing of "retro" merchandise just in case anyone requests or purchases anything with the California Angels logo.
http://home.comcast.net/~scottjhepple/Pictures/AngelsEiffel.jpg
Ethan Orlinsky, senior vice president and general counsel of MLB properties, says Major League Baseball has the right to choose its own associations.
"If we don't want to be associated with a non-profit school for underprivileged children, why would we want to be associated with a landmark in a foreign country? We have an image to protect, and we have to do that the best way we know how to." Orlinsky said.
MLB wants the SNTE to refrain from allowing tourists to see the tower from an angle that makes it look like an "A", or to look at it at night, where the fog and the lights might cause it to have a "halo" around the top. They also want a restriction on photos and sales of postcards.
The Eiffel Tower, long a landmark in Paris, stood for 72 years before the Angels were founded, yet Orlinsky is optimistic about baseball's case.
"If we can get a school full of kids to back down, we can handle France."
When reached by phone for comment, MLB commissioner Bud Selig seemed to speak into the wrong end of the phone until he got frustrated and seemingly started pressing buttons at random. Repeated calls got a busy signal.
MLB Seeks damages
Attorneys representing Major League Baseball have filed a lawsuit against the Société Nouvelle d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SNTE) over the use of the Eiffel Tower, which resembles the logo used by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Filed on the team's behalf, attorneys claim that the lawsuit seeks to limit use of the Eiffel tower at night, from certain angles, and in foggy conditions, which might be used to mislead tourists into believing that the tower is associated with the Angels baseball team.
When asked if tourists in Paris are thinking about baseball, Angels' management seemed confident of the worldwide popularity of their team. Nearly 70 percent of southern California residents are now aware the Angels are based in the area after the name change to "Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim" in January.
Last month, MLB filed a suit against the Carver Academy in San Antonio for having a logo that has the same letters as the California Angels logo, last used in 1996. MLB filed to defend the marketing of "retro" merchandise just in case anyone requests or purchases anything with the California Angels logo.
http://home.comcast.net/~scottjhepple/Pictures/AngelsEiffel.jpg
Ethan Orlinsky, senior vice president and general counsel of MLB properties, says Major League Baseball has the right to choose its own associations.
"If we don't want to be associated with a non-profit school for underprivileged children, why would we want to be associated with a landmark in a foreign country? We have an image to protect, and we have to do that the best way we know how to." Orlinsky said.
MLB wants the SNTE to refrain from allowing tourists to see the tower from an angle that makes it look like an "A", or to look at it at night, where the fog and the lights might cause it to have a "halo" around the top. They also want a restriction on photos and sales of postcards.
The Eiffel Tower, long a landmark in Paris, stood for 72 years before the Angels were founded, yet Orlinsky is optimistic about baseball's case.
"If we can get a school full of kids to back down, we can handle France."
When reached by phone for comment, MLB commissioner Bud Selig seemed to speak into the wrong end of the phone until he got frustrated and seemingly started pressing buttons at random. Repeated calls got a busy signal.