Girl Scouts sue Boy Scouts over trademark as boys welcome girls

The Girl Scouts of the United States of America filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday, after the Boy Scouts decided to drop "Boy" from its namesake program and start welcoming older girls.

The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court is an attempt by the Girl Scouts, founded in 1912, to avert an erosion of its brand and membership as the Boy Scouts, founded two years earlier, tries to reverse its own decades-long membership decline.

It was filed after the Boy Scouts, which accepts children 11 to 17 years old, said in May it would change its name to Scouts BSA in February 2019, and make girls eligible to earn its highest rank, Eagle Scout.

The Boy Scouts said in a statement it was reviewing the lawsuit.

"We applaud every organization that builds character and leadership in children, including the Girl Scouts of the USA, and believe that there is an opportunity for both organizations to serve girls and boys in our communities," it added.

Based in Irving, Texas, the Boy Scouts recently had about 2.28 million members, less than half its 1970s peak, while the Girl Scouts, based in Manhattan, said it has about 2 million.

In the complaint, the Girl Scouts said the Boy Scouts have no monopoly over such terms as "scouts" and "scouting" when it offers services to girls.

It also said the name change threatens to "marginalize" Girl Scouts activities and has already sown confusion, with families, schools and communities nationwide being told the organization no longer exists, or merged with the Boy Scouts.

"Only GSUSA has the right to use the Girl Scouts and Scouts trademarks with leadership development services for girls," and the Boy Scouts infringements are "new and uniquely damaging to GSUSA," the complaint said.

"We did what any brand, company, corporation, or organization would do to protect its intellectual property, the value of its brand in the marketplace, and to defend its good name," the Girl Scouts said in a statement.

The Boy Scouts has said its rebranding was part of a single-name approach it adopted when it decided in October 2017 to let girls enroll in the Cub Scouts, for children 7 to 10 years old.

It has also launched a "Scout Me In" campaign, featuring boys and girls.

The case is Girl Scouts of the United States of America v Boy Scouts of America, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 18-10287.

I don't know what one is supposed to say to shit like this.

Seems easy enough to fix- merge, call the result "The Scouts", fire two-thirds of the people who suck salary off the national organizations. Teach all the lessons to all the kids- most boys need to cook for themselves at some point, girls can learn the traditionally "male" lessons just as well. Let them play together, sell cookies and popcorn together, etc. NBD

Seems easy enough to fix- merge, call the result "The Scouts", fire two-thirds of the people who suck salary off the national organizations. Teach all the lessons to all the kids- most boys need to cook for themselves at some point, girls can learn the traditionally "male" lessons just as well. Let them play together, sell cookies and popcorn together, etc. NBD

Seems easy enough to fix- merge, call the result "The Scouts", fire two-thirds of the people who suck salary off the national organizations. Teach all the lessons to all the kids- most boys need to cook for themselves at some point, girls can learn the traditionally "male" lessons just as well. Let them play together, sell cookies and popcorn together, etc. NBD

Seems easy enough to fix- merge, call the result "The Scouts", fire two-thirds of the people who suck salary off the national organizations. Teach all the lessons to all the kids- most boys need to cook for themselves at some point, girls can learn the traditionally "male" lessons just as well. Let them play together, sell cookies and popcorn together, etc. NBD

I agree to some extent but 11-17 are the ages where they become noticeably different. Might make things awkward or difficult.

I secretly cheered when a girl beat my son for the archery badge.

just call them "The Youth". It seems to have worked in other countries.

just call them "The Youth". It seems to have worked in other countries.

Especially Germany.

Wow. Dumping on my guy K Eff and an admission a lawer didn't think a post through. The Apocalypse looms

Wow. Dumping on my guy K Eff and an admission a lawer didn't think a post through. The Apocalypse looms