Comment This is a comment, written by an editorial staff member. The commentary expresses the writer’s views.
On Thursday, Glimt could report that they have applied to the Norwegian Patent and Trademark Office for the trademark rights to its own name and some slogans many associate with the team. Easy to make sure.
The Bremnes family can attest to how unpleasant it is when something they come up with is used for commercial purposes. The famous verse line from the song “Folk i husan”, which Ola and Kari made famous in 1980, was suddenly used by a property company in Svolvær.
The expression “Det sku bo folk i husan” was at one time the slogan of an entire movement, which set off a counter-reaction in many municipalities. Houses and businesses had been left empty, in the shadow of aggressive centralisation. Villages were left without people. From the end of the 70s, Northern Norway had experienced that village after village was laid waste and families displaced to the nearest center in order to save a few kroner for bus routes and village schools.
It is understandable that such an important, political slogan should not be degraded into a gimmick to speed up housing sales in Svolvær – which, after all, was just such a center that ran away with the resources to the surrounding areas.
A collective happiness pill
In the same way that Martin Luther King must be spinning in his grave, considering how his famous “I have a dream” quote has appeared in countless advertisements, it is understandable that the Bremnes family reacts. That they also won with their complaint was more than understandable.
From Glimt’s point of view, one can understand the club’s need to set limits for use. The thought of an American grocery giant stealing the name “Bodø/Glimt” – to use it in its fruit department – probably makes many shudder. In addition to the club name itself, they have also secured a patent on the expressions “Forever” and “Our way”.
The applications were registered with the Norwegian Patent and Trademark Office on 20 March, and are still being processed. The aim is to secure control over the commercial aspects of the expressions and the name. Going forward, Glimt wants to control the pressure on watches, chronometric instruments, pins, jewellery. stationery, printed matter, photographs, flags and pennants.
In addition, the list contains a wide range of products such as clothing, headgear, footwear and party hats. The nail in the coffin for the guaranteed winning merch – the “Our Way” platform shoes in gold – in other words.
God forbid if you were to experience something new
Beer and brewery products are other things mentioned on the list. If Glimt gets the thumbs up for the application, it means, among other things, that it may not be possible to produce the Bådin beer “Førr Evig”. Well, should they be refused to sell these, they can just ship out the cup final beer from 2023. The one that has such a familiar aftertaste.
“Forever” is a logical thing to want. The phrase from the famous Glimt song has in many ways become Glimt folklore. At the same time, the song was written by Halvdan Sivertsen. Is it correct that the club is sitting on the rights then?
Another song which has gradually become a regular part of the song repertoire at Aspmyra – “Hver gang vi møstes” – is also signed by Halvdan. Should one just patent it at the same time? If Glimt hijacked this right, perhaps TV 2 would be forced to change the name of its reality series, and would have to go for what it is most deeply about – “Hver gang vi grytes”.
“Our way” may not have the same “schwung” about it. And most people also scratched their heads that this was a Glimt phrase at all. AN was informed that this was taken from the inscription sewn into the back of the suit. For my part, it would be just as logical to patent something else you find on the back of all yellow football shirts – “Wash at 60 degrees”
Until the next time you apply, I have suggestions for other famous Bodø classics that can be patented. “Where old heroes are brought home” or “former TIL player” will probably be hits on party hats in the years to come.
Should we just sit and watch Tromsø run away with the money?