http://tinyurl.com/auqo76k
A panel of trademark judges in Washington, D.C., earlier this month denied a
request from a private entrepreneur, known as Evil Enterprises, Inc., to
register the trademark for the phrase "Baseballs Evil Empire."
某家叫邪恶企业的公司申请商标 "棒球邪恶帝国"
但在这个月稍早被华盛顿法官驳回
Evil Enterprises wanted the exclusive right to market merchandise using that
phrase, which was coined in regard to the Yankees by Larry Lucchino, the
president and chief executive of the Boston Red Sox, back in 2002. Upon
learning that the Yankees had signed sought-after Cuban pitcher Jose
Contreras, Lucchino was widely reported as saying: "The evil empire extends
its tentacles even into Latin America."
Evil Enterprises initially applied for a trademark back in July of 2008.
邪恶企业在2008年申请这个商标
But the Yankees objected, arguing that they had the rights to the phrase—at
least when used in connection with baseball.
洋基反对 表示他们拥有"邪恶帝国"的所有权
Part of the Yankees' argument: a concession that in the baseball world, they
are, in fact, the "Evil Empire." In its legal papers, the team referenced a
number of articles from the past decade using the term in connection with the
Yankees, and conceded that the team has "implicitly embraced" the "Evil
Empire" theme by playing music from Star Wars during their home games.
洋基: 棒球界只能有一个 ㊣邪恶帝国㊣
The panel of judges sided with the Yankees, ruling that the Yankees are
strongly associated with the phrase. Allowing anyone else to use the phrase
exclusively would likely cause confusion, ruled the judges.
法院认同洋基队的说法
"In short, the record shows that there is only one Evil Empire in baseball
and it is the New York Yankees," wrote the judges. "Accordingly, we find that
[the Yankees] have a protectable trademark right in the term . . . as used in
connection with baseball."
法院: 纪录显示棒球界只有一个㊣邪恶帝国㊣ 而那就是洋基队
Gerard Dunne, a lawyer for Evil Enterprises, said he and his client had yet
to figure out whether to appeal.
邪恶企业的律师Gerard Dunne表示他们还没决定要不要上诉
"But we disagree with the opinion, because we don't think "Evil Empire"
exclusively refers to the Yankees anymore," he said. "You've seen it used
with the Phillies, the Rangers, and other teams."
Dunne: 但我们不同意这个说法 因为我们不认为"邪恶帝国"现在只专属于洋基队所有
你可以看到它被用在费城人 游骑兵 和其他队上
Representatives for the Yankees didn't respond to request seeking comment.
When reached Friday, Lucchino said, "It sounds to me like the dictionary
definition of ironic. I meant it when I said it. I felt it was a sincere
comment then." He added, "I give them credit. Their embracing it is clever
indeed."