Questions about the latest Raider Trial

[raider-md]

Excuse my ignorance, but I really only follow personnel and game related items. I've never really concerned myself with the legal aspects and being on the east coast, you don't really hear much about it. So without having to research it myself, can someone generally tell me what's up.

I understand the premise of the suit, that Al sez Oakland lured him back with promises of sellouts, luxury suites etc., and that he projects the franchise has been devalued and will continue to do so at a pretty good rate....but I guess my question is - if Al wins - what does he get????

Is he sueing for $$$$, the right to reno the lease, the right to break the lease and move or something else?

Just curious - thanks.

[GoDeep]

If you check out all of the posts that SoCalRaider has put out on the board on that subject, it will answer most of your Q?'s. But i have the some Q? what if Al's wins. SoCal said he will win and that Al won't get a dime from the City of Oakland, so i say WTF.

[SoCalRaider]

Actually the Raiders just re-opened an old lawsuit against the NFL today. They are suing the NFL that the Bucs uniform and Panthers colors are a violation of the Raiders rights in California. AD is asking the court to force the Bucs and Panthers to change uniforms anytime they play a game in the West Coast. Case doesn't stand a chance, doesn't really make a lot of sense if you think about the converse of it... but just a heads up on what's going on.

If nobody else has posted something on it, I'll do it a little later.

[Sin]

Originally posted by SoCalRaider
Actually the Raiders just re-opened an old lawsuit against the NFL today. They are suing the NFL that the Bucs uniform and Panthers colors are a violation of the Raiders rights in California. AD is asking the court to force the Bucs and Panthers to change uniforms anytime they play a game in the West Coast.

I dont understand how their uni's are a violation...

[t3eb]

Here's the article:

Raiders' suit seeks new look for Bucs
TAMPA BAY'S LOGO MAJOR ISSUE IN CASE
By Barry Witt
Mercury News

Maybe Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon was confused by the skull and crossed swords logo on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' helmets when he threw five interceptions in Super Bowl XXXVII in January.

Attorneys for Oakland team owner Al Davis didn't go that far Tuesday in a downtown San Jose courtroom, but they did argue that the Buccaneers should not be allowed to wear their current uniforms for games in California because Tampa Bay's logo violates the Raiders' trademark rights under state law.

In seeking a court order against the NFL, the Raiders also want the Carolina Panthers to come up with new uniforms for games in California because two of their colors -- silver and black -- match those of the Raiders.

Court papers filed by the Raiders say the Buccaneers' logo ``is likely to dilute the distinctive quality of the Raiders' mark, thereby lessening its capacity to identify the Raiders and causing irreparable harm that cannot adequately be compensated by an award of damages.''

The case is one of many legal battles involving the Raiders. It is being heard at the same time another team of Raiders attorneys is in Sacramento asking a jury for upward of $1 billion in damages from the Oakland Coliseum for allegedly misrepresenting sales of season tickets.

NFL attorneys, saying there will always be overlap among logos and colors, have asked Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge John Herlihy to throw out the Raiders' request, arguing the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits a state from intervening.

If the Raiders were to prevail, NFL attorney James Hunt said, then other states could retaliate. To protect the Detroit Lions, for example, Hunt said ``Michigan could say any uniforms featuring predatory cats'' would be prohibited in that state, given that the Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars also have such animals in their logos.

Tampa Bay introduced its new logo in 1997, replacing ``Bucco Bruce,'' the winking, feathered pirate that had come to symbolize the franchise's weakness over many years.

The Raiders say the NFL ignored their objections to the new logo and to the color scheme adopted by the Panthers when that team entered the league in 1995. For more than four decades, the Raiders have used silver and black as the team colors and an eye-patch-wearing man in a football helmet in front of crossed swords as the team logo.

Herlihy did not rule on the issue, but he seemed sympathetic to the NFL's position.

If California tells Tampa Bay to wear a new uniform for games in this state, then Florida might say ``when the Raiders come to Florida, get that logo off your uniform,'' Herlihy said, suggesting the Raiders might ``put a daisy on your uniform'' as an alternative to their pirate.

Raiders attorney Simon Frankel argued that some NFL teams already have adopted a ``third'' jersey in addition to their regular home and away uniforms, so it wouldn't be a big deal to ask the Buccaneers and Panthers to wear something else for games in the state.

The trademark issue is one of a handful that remain in an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink style lawsuit the Raiders originally filed in 1996 listing multiple grievances against the league and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Some of the issues were transferred to courts in Los Angeles, where another Raiders case against the league is being fought; many others already have been dismissed by Herlihy.

In addition to the trademark claim, one other issue set for trial in June is a Raiders allegation that NFL Properties, a separate company that markets products with league and team logos, failed to use its best efforts to sell merchandise, costing the Raiders money as an equal shareholder in the company with all other NFL teams.

The Raiders' attorneys on Tuesday told Herlihy that they might need a further delay of that trial because the Sacramento case already is projected to take longer than previously expected.

[GoDeep]

When ya watch any games from Raymond James Sta. look at 'the flags' that encircle the inside of that Sta. They are The Raiders Silver & Black Commitment to Excellence flags, that used to hang & encircle The Oakland Alameda County Sta. for years. The Logo aside, how the hell did TB get their hands on Raider property? Al does have a case here. Its all out & out theft. Sorry, but i grew up with those flags and its who the Raiders are. Also there was a time when The Raiders were the only team in both leagues to have black in their uni's.