Saints Win Trademark Dispute Against Alleged French Royal Descendant

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has dismissed a case brought by Michel J. Messier, who claimed to be a direct descendant of the Kings of France and argued that he and his family owned the intellectual property rights to the fleur-de-lis symbol used by the New Orleans Saints. The court found that Messier lacked standing, as he failed to prove any commercial use or concrete injury resulting from the Saints’ use of the mark. The Saints have used the fleur-de-lis as their logo since 1967 and obtained a trademark for it in 1974. Judges noted that Messier’s arguments were speculative and based on ancestral ties rather than current business interests or commercial activity. This ruling upholds both the Saints’ trademark and their continued use of the iconic symbol. Messier has indicated he may seek further legal action, but the court’s opinion emphasized the lack of evidence supporting his claims.