The New Orleans Saints' logo is still theirs.
The NFL franchise recently faced a lawsuit brought by Michel Messier, a self-proclaimed member of French royalty who said he and his family own rights to the Saints' logo design, Sportico first reported Tuesday.
Messier claimed he is a "direct descendant of the Kings of France (Scotland, Aragon and Castille)." That branch of royalty, according to him, owns the rights to the fleur-de-lis design used as the Saints' logo.
He lost the case in the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board at the Federal Circuit.
Chief judge Kimberly Moore, judge Sharon Prost and judge Leonard Stark ruled Messier lacked enough of an argument to present an appeal, so the case was dismissed.
The Saints' current logo has remained the same since their NFL inception in 1967. New Orleans received its trademark registration for the logo from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1974. New Orleans was allowed to use the fleur-de-lis design for the logo for "entertainment services in the form of professional football games and exhibition."
Louis VII is believed to have been the first French king to use the fleur-de-lis design on his shield, according to Britannica. The general use of fleur-de-lis designs on banners and French royal pieces might have been used earlier. King Louis VII lived from 1120-80.
According to trademark law, Messier had to show he suffered an imminent injury caused by the Saints. The judges also emphasized in the case dismissal that his family doesn't offer or sell merchandise that uses the fleur-de-lis design, or he isn't involved in entertainment services related to football.
