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In the wake of MLS's recent attempt to trademark the Cascadia Cup, the supporters groups involved in the competition have taken action. In a move meant to secure the future of the Cascadia Cup as a supporter's trophy, the Cascadia Cup Council has applied to register the Cascadia Cup trademark in the US and will do so in Canada as well.
One Timbers fan and Portland-based lawyer, J-P Voilleque, posted a breakdown three days ago of the reasoning behind the groups' opposition to the Cascadia Cup trademark being owned by MLS, which can be found here.
The Cascadia Cup has been awarded by the supporters groups of Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver since 2004, with a two year gap in 2009 and 2010 in which only Portland and Vancouver participated thanks to Seattle's move to MLS.
The press release:
Portland, OR., Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, WA. — January 10, 2013 —The supporters groups in Seattle, Portland and Vancouver jointly oppose Major League Soccer’s claim of ownership of the Cascadia Cup trademark. The three supporters groups have jointly used the Cascadia Cup mark for many years and have been the rightful owners of the mark. In response to recent statements and actions by MLS, the supporters groups recently formed a new entity, the Cascadia Cup Council, which acquired the supporters’ groups trademark rights in the Cascadia Cup mark. The Cascadia Cup Council will ensure that the mark remains in the hands of the very supporters who created it.
The Cascadia Cup Council recently filed a U.S. federal trademark registration application for the Cascadia Cup mark, and a registration application will likely be filed in Canada as well. The Cascadia Cup Council also intends to formally oppose Major League Soccer’s attempt to register the trademark that the public recognizes as a fan-created competition that predates Major League Soccer in Vancouver, Portland or Seattle.
Not only does the Cascadia Cup Council believe they rightfully own the trademark to Cascadia Cup but they also are of the belief they are the appropriate entity to protect the mark from third parties that are unaffiliated with the supporters groups in the Pacific Northwest.