The Hill News

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is continuing his push to keep the phrase "Who Dat?" â€" long used as a cheer of support for the New Orleans Saints â€"  free of trademark.

Having criticized the NFL early in 2010 for claiming it owned the phrase, Vitter is now turning his attention to a company that says it owns the trademark.

"Remember when NFL claimed they owned 'Who Dat?' We fought that and we won. Now there is company claiming they own it," Vitter tweeted Saturday afternoon.

The company is called Who Dat, Inc., and is run by two brothers â€" Sal and Steve Monistere â€" who penned a song in 1983 that prominently featured the phrase.

The Monisteres are now suing local busi! nesses in New Orleans that sell "Who Dat?" merchandise.

"As the trademark owners, we are required by federal law to enforce our mark and defend our rights ... The law demands that we do so," they said in a statement.

Vitter, meanwhile, is already fighting back. 

"Asked owners to drop ridiculous lawsuit and sent them two of my “Who Dat” t-shirts," he tweeted.

One local news report quoted the letter, and said that Vitter wrote: "You're kidding, right? Claiming you own the rights to 'Who Dat'?"