The Las Vegas Raiders – often referred to as “Raiders” – were a professional American football team that played in Oakland, California. The team has had a colorful history of being based various cities, including Oakland and Los Angeles.
The team was first established in 1960 as a member of the American Football League (AFL) and became a member of the National Football League (NFL), which merged with the AFL in 1970. The Raiders belonged to the Western Division of the NFL’s American Football Conference.
A contest was held to name the team, and the winning vote was “Oakland Señors”, but this was overturned for the name Raiders, which came third in the contest after the community made a joke out of the name. The original team colors were black, gold and white, but the uniforms were redesigned to silver and black in 1963.
The Raiders were based in Oakland until 1982. After Al Davis, owner of the Raiders (from 1976 – 2011) moved the team to Los Angeles due to the unsuccessful improvements made to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the team stadium at that time. The Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995.
In the team’s history, the Raiders have won one AFL championship in 1967, two Super Bowl championships in 1976 and 1980, and 3three conference championships in 1976, 1980, and 2002.
On January 22, 2020, the team was officially renamed the Las Vegas Raiders, and the relocation to Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, was made a few months later.
Famous Raiders Trademarks
The Raiders have had a colorful past with multiple relocations across California and Nevada. The team is known as the only team in the NFL or the AFL to play in the Super Bowl in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Let’s take a look at the impressive portfolio of intellectual property held by Raiders Football Club, LLC.
Raiders
The Raiders is the nickname that the Oakland Raiders are mostly referred to. The earliest registration of this trademark is 1962, by Raiders Football Club, LLC, and applies to:
- Entertainment services in the nature of football games and exhibitions
- Professional football games and exhibitions
- Trading cards, posters, magazines relating to professional football, postcards, calendars, wrapping paper, paper stickers, paper napkins, notepads, and greeting cards
- Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing and footwear
- Clothing, namely fleece tops, and bottoms, T-shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, pants, jackets, knit shirts, jerseys, wristbands, warm-up suits
- Gloves, cloth bibs, sleepwear, underwear, robes, socks, scarves
- Headwear, caps, knit hats
Oakland Raiders
There are a few trademarks that are specifically registered for the Oakland Raiders. The first was registered in 1995 and applies to:
- Entertainment services, namely football exhibitions rendered live in stadiums and through the media of radio and television broadcasts
- Knit tops, hats, jackets, and jerseys
- Decorative magnets, football helmets, and pre-recorded DVDs
- Jewelry, clocks, collectible coins, and non-monetary coins of precious metal
- Posters, calendars, book series relating to football, football magazines, pens, paper gift bags, notebooks, and souvenir programs for sports events
- Toys, including plush toys, stuffed animals, dart boards, jigsaw puzzles, billiard balls, board games, and sporting goods
- Education and entertainment services in the nature of organizing and presenting football games and exhibitions
- Providing sports and entertainment information via a global computer network or commercial online service
Los Angeles Raiders
The trademark for the Los Angeles Raiders was registered in 1985, following the move whilst the Raiders stadium in Oakland was undergoing significant repairs. The trademark applies to:
- Entertainment services in the form of professional football games and exhibitions
- Trading cards, posters, magazines relating to professional football, postcards, calendars, wrapping paper, paper stickers, paper napkins, notepads, and greeting cards
- Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing and footwear, including:
- Coaches caps, baseball caps, visors, headbands, ear muffs
- T-shirts, tank tops, jackets, sweatshirts
- Robes, raincoats, parkas, ponchos, down jackets, leather jackets
- Gloves, scarves, snowsuits, mittens, aprons
- Sneakers, socks, underwear, bathing suits, and leg warmers
Las Vegas Raiders
The trademark for the “Las Vegas Raiders” was filed in 2016 and is still pending registration. The application for trademark applies to:
- Education and entertainment services in the nature of professional football games and exhibitions
- Athletic competitions, football fan club services, and musical and dance performances provided during intervals at sports events
- Physical education programs
- Presentation of live shows featuring football games, exhibitions, and competitions
- Organizing sporting and cultural events featuring football
- Download software for mobile phones for information relating to football
- Electronic game software
- Electronic publications, including magazines and newsletters
- Jewelry, watches, clocks, collectible coins, commemorative coins
- Trading cards, stationery products, paper party decorations, gift bags, memorabilia holders, posters, calendars, books, and magazines in the field of football
- Board games, toys, sporting goods, and Christmas tree ornaments
Commitment to Excellence
The Oakland Raiders have a powerful motto: Commitment to Excellence, which was said by Al Davies when he was the owner. This motto then continued through all levels and teams of the Raiders franchises and is a phrase best associated with the team.
This trademark was registered in 2003 by the Raiders Football Club, LLC, and applies to:
- Lapel pins, pendants, necklaces, earrings, charms, watches, rings, key chains of precious metal, and license plate frames
- Banners, football books, posters, playing cards, trading cards, booklets, program guides, catalogs, notebooks, pens and pencils, stationery, photo albums, book covers, memorandum boards
- Memo pads, stationery-type portfolios, 3-ring binders, calendars, poster cards, placemats, gift boxes, and pennants
- Paper napkins, paper plates, paper stickers, crossword puzzles, bumper stickers, greeting cards, postcards, and wrapping paper
- Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, including T-shirts, tank tops, jackets, jeans, coats, sweatshirts, pajamas, knit tops, scarves, dresses, sweaters, fleece tops and bottoms
- Entertainment services in the nature of football games and exhibitions, rendered through television, radio, and internet
Pride and Poise
Pride and Poise are another one of the many slogans that the Raiders embody, but it is less discussed than “Just Win, Baby!” and “Commitment to Excellence”. This slogan is less focused on the need to win, but more about the attitude that the team and players have whilst being a Raider. The phrase was registered in 2005 and applies to:
- Entertainment services in the nature of football games and exhibitions, rendered through television, radio, and internet
- Clothing, including shirts, T-shirts, sweaters, vests, turtlenecks, pants, dresses, coats
- Children’s wear, including shorts, shirts, socks, sleepwear, leggings, rainwear, footwear, and shoes
- Sportswear, including jackets, sweatshirts, sweatpants, jerseys, jogging suits, uniforms, caps, hats, knitted headwear, visors, headbands, and wristbands
Wrapping up
If you are a person, team, or organization with a distinctive brand, it’s essential to protect your intellectual property with trademark registrations. According to trademark law, completing federal trademark registration (with the USPTO) protects trademark owners from infringement.
In the case of the Raiders, it’s had a rich history with several relocations, leaving some of its trademarks obsolete, now that it has settled in Las Vegas and operates under the name Las Vegas Raiders. Currently, the Raiders have 58 trademarks filed and registered with USPTO, and the latest stage in its history opens more opportunities to expand beyond its current portfolio.
