The Jacks NYB, a mummers clubhouse with a members-only bar in South Philly, inspired the St. Louis Blues to use Laura Branigan's 1982 disco hit "Gloria" during the team's improbable Stanley Cup run.
Now, the bar is looking for compensation from third party vendors who used the phrase "Play Gloria" on merchandise sold outside the Blues' arena without The Jacks NYB's approval.
MORE: SEPTA project impacting Airport Rail Line requires temporary shuttle buses
The bar issued a statement over the weekend about the situation, denying a St. Louis radio report that the bar was suing St. Louis companies over the use of the phrase:
"When we found out that other companies were using our the PLAY GLORIA trademark to make money off of it," the bar explained in the statement, "we reached out to them to try to make a deal with them. If they are going to profit from it, why shouldn’t we get a small piece of the pie. Wouldn’t you?"
- MORE NEWS
- Townsends Inlet Bridge between Sea Isle City, Avalon tentatively set to reopen July 30
- July's Buck Moon is the first full moon of summer: Here's what you need to know
- Lara Trump launches 'Women for Trump' coalition in King of Prussia
The craze began when members of the Blues spent an evening at The Jacks NYB, watching the Eagles' Jan. 6 divisional round playoff game against the Bears. During commercial breaks, a DJ at the bar repeatedly played "Gloria", and the scene left an impression on the players.
The Jacks NYB claims it filed a trademark application May 8 for "Play Gloria", which covered use of the phrase on T-shirts, and it filed a second trademark application June 1 for "Play Gloria!", covering hats, shirts, blankets, and more merchandise.
The Jacks NYB's main issue seems to be with St. Louis-themed streetwear company Arch Apparel, which currently sells a shirt with the phrase "Play Gloria." in block yellow letters, as well as a color-changing "Play Gloria." plastic cup, for sale on its website.
"Why should they keep all of the profits?" the statement continued. "In the case of Arch Apparel, rather than talk to us, they completely ignored us, then went on to make hundreds of THOUSANDS of dollars off of our #PlayGloria Trademark when fully knowing we owned the rights since our first letter in May. The Blues, NHL, AB, (and) dozens of others stopped using #PlayGloria once we trademarked, but Arch Apparel didn’t and continued to thrive."
Rob McKinley, an attorney representing The Jacks NYB, told USA Today that the bar is in talks with Arch Apparel, along with a number of other companies, about using the trademark.
Follow Adam & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @adamwhermann | @thePhillyVoice
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice
Add Adam's RSS feed to your feed reader
Have a news tip? Let us know.