When Saturday Comes / Gooner trademark

tomkingsbury · Post by **tomkingsbury** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:36 am

Very pleased to see an article in the new WSC's magazine by Mr Spurling discussing the trademarking of the beloved Gooner phrase, and also noticed it mentioned editor Kevin Witcher and also the first editorial by Mike Francis describing the Gooner.
For those that dont buy the magazine, the article discussing the right (or lack of) arsenal has in trademarking the term and other previous 'spats' the club has had with its supporters i.e. matthew reed. Arsenal are accused (by john simmonds) of potentially taking the "McDonalds approach" - branding so much that fans will face court cases against the club i.e. gooner fanzine i suspect.
What i found interesting was Francis' description of the fanzine (and forum i guess nowadays): "written for arsenal fans by the fans who really care", with spurling summing up the word 'Gooner' symbolising "an arsenal fan who considered himself anti-establishment".

Anyway, this got me thinking: if the word does become trademarked (i know a thread has started on this), and effectively the gooner has to be renamed (MK Gooner maybe??) would we have an anti-establishment name? Also, if for some reason the fanzine were allowed to keep its name, would YOU (as in creators, editors etc.) want to keep the name if now the term had become commercialised?? Its a shame to think that the club is trying to make every penny they can out of something i.e. the white 'herbert chapman innovation' away kit, and it struck me that PHW said yesterday about the takeover talk that :
"We have always run Arsenal as a business and kept within reasonable bounds". Maybe im being a little blind, but its a shame that he says that, times we live in i guess.

Post by **REB** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:53 am

WSC is always a great read and has done so much for clubs in trouble,, they dont normally go wit any of the big 4 so this GOONER naming rights is a big thing,, great front cover this month as well

Post by **T.S** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:56 am

I'd imagine the name 'Gooner' after it has been "commercialised" wouldn't be a problem. Still, your thread got me thinking about new names for 'The Gooner' if the dreaded day comes. I doubt 'MK Gooner' would work as it still has 'Gooner' in it. How about...

What do you lot reckon the fanzine should be called if and when...?

Post by **REB** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:06 am

tonysaunders wrote:I'd imagine the name 'Gooner' after it has been "commercialised" wouldn't be a problem. Still, your thread got me thinking about new names for 'The Gooner' if the dreaded day comes. I doubt 'MK Gooner' would work as it still has 'Gooner' in it. How about...

What do you lot reckon the fanzine should be called if and when...?

DAVID PLEATS CAR
49ers
HIGHBURY NEWS
61 NEVER AGAIN
UP 4 GRABS NOW
has 2 be the gooner,, its not the clubs 2 mess wit,

tomkingsbury · Post by **tomkingsbury** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:18 am

tonysaunders wrote: I doubt 'MK Gooner' would work as it still has 'Gooner' in it.

What do you lot reckon the fanzine should be called if and when...?

MKgooner wasnt a serious suggestion, just a play on words as in MK dons, formeley wimbledon, as im sure u were aware. Anyway, could we be called:

Goonered??

do like the sound of david pleat's car - the name not getting in it before any jokes are cracked.

Post by **gooner.ed** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:12 am

just to clarify what i believe the club's motives are. i should add that this is my interpretation of it, not based on any information from the club. just previous behaviour. initially, it is to prevent traders on the independent stalls outside of the ground selling merchandise with the term 'gooner' or 'gooners' on it, unless said merchandise is bought through the club. their man ronald crawford has verbally told me that the club will NOT subsequently ask the trading standards officers at islington council to prosecute for trademark infringement traders that do continue to produce their own merchandise with 'gooner' on it.

do you believe he is telling the truth? kind of makes the whole trademark application a bit pointless if they are actually going to not take steps to prevent traders producing their own gear.

i do not think you will see a lot of 'gooner' products in the club shop. this is more about making sure that as much of the money that is spent on matchdays within 500 metres of the stadium goes to the club. as to the further implications if they are successful in their application, we are seeking advice on that and keeping our own counsel for the short term. my personal belief is that the club are not justified in their actions given their previous reluctance to even acknowledge the word, let alone use it in an official/legal capacity. however, anyone can apply to trademark a word. whether or not such an application can succeed is another matter...

Ben-gooner14 · Post by **Ben-gooner14** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:14 pm

Rebel you just don't listen i told you it's 69 never again

Post by **T.S** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:16 pm

I like "It's Up For Grabs Now"

stats · Post by **stats** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:02 pm

tonysaunders wrote:I like "It's Up For Grabs Now"

Me too
Or that sums it all up

lol
Spurs go calling themselves **** (gets sick) but Tottenham can't copyright it so why do Arsenal have the right to copyright ours, ballacks if you ask me
I'll now buy WSC again as i did find it funny when my old teacher use to give to me& at least i have a WHSmith round the corner for college now

Post by **REB** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:15 pm

Ben-gooner14 wrote:Rebel you just don't listen i told you it's 69 never again

69 NEVER AGAIN is just for us married guys wit little gooners running around

charliegeorgewhocanhitem · Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:22 pm

Unbelievable, how the fuck can the club claim the term "Gooner" as their own? The term was'nt invented by the club so how can they claim it? What I know about copywright law you could write on the spuds trophy cabinet so I would'nt have a clue about the legal aspects of it but it just seems weird to me. Does this mean that the club can come along and copywright any term that Arsenal fans want to give themselves?

Galasso · Post by **Galasso** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:56 pm

charliegeorgewhocanhitem wrote:Unbelievable, how the fuck can the club claim the term "Gooner" as their own? The term was'nt invented by the club so how can they claim it? What I know about copywright law you could write on the spuds trophy cabinet so I would'nt have a clue about the legal aspects of it but it just seems weird to me. Does this mean that the club can come along and copywright any term that Arsenal fans want to give themselves?

I am submitting a claim for the words "FANS" and "FORUM".

I don't accept cheques.

Post by **DB10GOONER** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:57 am

To Gooner Ed; How about the fanzine also try and copyright the word "Gooner" as well? I'm not sure if it would be too expensive a process to be feasible, but surely you'd have no problem demonstrating prior usage...

Hagbard 23 · Post by **Hagbard 23** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:27 am

I became a GOONER in the winter of '71.

So obviously the term belongs to me. If anyone disagrees I'd be happy to wrestle you for it ...!

When I was a kid THE GOONERS was the name of AFC's ,(quite formidable at the time ), Hooligan Firm A.K.A. THE HERD

Quite why Hill-wood and Lady Nina Diamond-Pearls, and the rest of the shapeshifting reptilians on our beloved board of directors feel the need to acquire this term , that obviously belongs to the people of North London, is a bit of an enigma ?

Twenty years ago
GOONER was a term of abuse..........

SACK THE BOARD

Post by **gooner.ed** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:36 am

DB10GOONER wrote:To Gooner Ed; How about the fanzine also try and copyright the word "Gooner" as well? I'm not sure if it would be too expensive a process to be feasible, but surely you'd have no problem demonstrating prior usage...

we are looking into all aspects of this. in truth, it's actually above my head and in a sense i am relieved about that. think monkey and organ grinder. the man turning the handle makes the decisions on legal matters. i suspect a) the cost and b) communications with the club to form an agreement which both sides can live with will determine which steps are taken.

personally i have no problem with the club producing 'gooner' merchandise as long as they don't stop anyone else having the right to do so. anyway, off to buy some bananas...