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Alright here's the scoop folks.

I was contacted by the NFL a few days ago and they had a big problem with our highlight videos. Warpathfilms.com is no more and there will be no more highlight videos supplied or hosted by this site. I know it stinks but what can you do? Also, please do not post any links to youtube that feature any sort of Redskins videos as we will be forced to take them down, no questions asked. That also goes for those homemade highlight videos that get passed around, please do not post them here.

Also, we can no longer use any Redskins logos on the site which includes our banners and site skins. We're in the process of coming up with some new designs so please bear with us. We're not sure what will happen with the avatars as I'm waiting for clarification as to whether we can use player pictures. In the meantime I had to remove any avatars that had a Redskins logo incorporated into it, so that's why some avatars disappeared the last few days.

Finally, and this is the big one, we can't use the domain name redskinswarpath.com anymore. We'll be switching back to thewarpath.net in the next few days, so be sure to change your bookmarks accordingly.

Well, I think that's it. It stinks but what are you gonna do. It's not like I'm in the position to butt heads with the NFL and any of our attorneys here would probably agree that when it comes to intellectual property, we were probably in clear violation of that. The NFL doesn't take this stuff lightly and we had no choice but to comply. They were very cooperative in allowing us to make the necessary changes without pursuing legal action, so for that we should be grateful.

So again, the major change is with the domain name. The NFL will be taking ownership of redskinswarpath.com in the next few days so that domain will no longer point here. We'll back to thewarpath.net as our main domain name, so be ready. I'll give the site a heads up before the change goes through.

Thanks.

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So that's why you changed that top thing. I'll try not to post any videos. Does that mean people's avatar's can't be the Skin's logo?

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just wondering, who contacted you? was it a head honcho or a lawyer? Despite the fact that this is really shitty news, it must have been cool being called by the NFL.

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Before you give ownership of Redskinswarpath.com to the NFL, I would check into to making them purchase it. I would comply with everything else to avoid a hassle, but I'd check that out with an attorney. There is value to that website address- SI has had a hotlink for some time. There's gotta be some skins fans lawyers out there who read this and can give some advice.

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[quote=BeastsoftheNFCeast;446082]just wondering, who contacted you? was it a head honcho or a lawyer? Despite the fact that this is really shitty news, it must have been cool being called by the NFL.[/quote]

attorneys for the NFL

yeah I guess it's kinda cool but in the end it sucks, it wasn't exactly the kind of circumstances that I wanted to be contacted by the NFL under.

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Man that really sucks. Do you think they are going to be making the rounds of all NFL fan sites and telling them to take logos/videos down? Just another thing to mark down under "No Fun League". It won't affect the boards that much but this is just something that strikes me the wrong way.

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This comes directly from the NFL?

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Another example of the man sticking it to you... Did you pay and registar that Redskinswarpath.com domain?

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That sucks!!!This explains why my cookies for the site wouldn't work.I know you're saying the NFL but do you think the Danny had anything to do with it?
As an outsider I'll say that this site is 100 times better than exstrem skins and you guys should be very proud!!I believe the danny is jealous!

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[quote=mooby;446085]Man that really sucks. [B]Do you think they are going to be making the rounds of all NFL fan sites and telling them to take logos/videos down?[/B] Just another thing to mark down under "No Fun League". It won't affect the boards that much but this is just something that strikes me the wrong way.[/quote]

I don't know... they could if they want to that's for sure. I'm not sure why we got on their radar.

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[quote=Giantone;446089]That sucks!!!This explains why my cookies for the site wouldn't work.I know you're saying the NFL but do you think the Danny had anything to do with it?
As an outsider I'll say that this site is 100 times better than exstrem skins and you guys should be very proud!!I believe the danny is jealous![/quote]

I doubt it, it's not like we're new to the scene. I think this would have happened a long time ago if the team had a problem with us.

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[quote=Soup's Uncle;446087]This comes directly from the NFL?[/quote]

Yes, what part of NFL do you not understand? j/k ;)

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i always typed in thewarpath.net anyways, just a habit :). i really dont get some of the stuff, but i guess if their lawyers say so then i guess thats just how it is.

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This sucks. At least they didn't shut the site down. I would rather never post again then join ES. Personallly ES is one of the worst forums I've ever seen, and I'm very lucky that this site showed up first when I searched for "Redskins Forum" on Yahoo otherwise I would have joined ES.

However if you do see me on ES it'll be because I'm having a fun time creating the most pointless threads and watching them blossom into 12 page topics. Ok so maybe thats trolling, but I'm sure I could find a way to rationalize it.

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[quote=Big C;446093]i always typed in thewarpath.net anyways, just a habit :). i really dont get some of the stuff, but i guess if their lawyers say so then i guess thats just how it is.[/quote]

I always used thewarpath.net too

The only reason I changed it was to help the search engine rankings, now that's gonna go to shit with another domain change but oh well, they'll come back eventually.

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That sucks, Matty, but this site could look like your basic Notepad app and it would still be considered the best Redskin's discussion board on the Web.

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Wow, thats ridiculous. Didn't know that we were showing up on the NFL radar like that

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I just want to commend Matty for keeping his head above water these past few days and leading us through all these changes. I know it's been stressful.

We'll be as strong as we've ever been.

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[QUOTE=Mattyk72;446095]I always used thewarpath.net too

The only reason I changed it was to help the search engine rankings, now that's gonna go to shit with another domain change but oh well, they'll come back eventually.[/QUOTE]

Should we start searching for this site daily to help boost thewarpath.net

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I allways did the thewarpath.org and it says "forbidden" for the last couple of days.

It does really suck but I guess what can you do. Also Ive allways wanted to say thanks for hosting the site and putting togather the best fan site I know of.

Maybe one day these sites will end up over seas like kazaa and stuff. Really sucks. And if helps ill start finding my way here through search engines too. Any particular key words? "Redskins forum"?

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Like you are such a threat to the NFL. Don't they have better things to do then pick on the little people? You even advertise merchandise for the fans to buy. What a thanks you get!!!

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This is beyond belief, if it was a month earlier I would be thinking what a poor April Fool's joke.

So no site can use the term "Redskins" in their title or use official logos without the express written consent of the NFL blah blah blah.

Ludicrous. :soapbox:

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No worries. The strength of this forum is the intelligent fan base we have and the thoughtful discussions that take place here. That sure as hell won't change. It may be tougher to gain visibility around the internet, but the membership will stay strong and the site will keep growing.

Way to battle through it, keep fighting your guts out, Matty!

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can you get the express written consent to use their logos in some situations, or would they require you to pay for them?

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I think we need to focus on what's important here.

Can we still broadcast major league baseball with implied oral consent as opposed to expressed written consent?

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This site is awesome no matter what happens

THE WARPATH...keeping AWNB's test grades lower than expected since 2006

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This is crazy.

I don't think the NFL has any right to the redskinswarpath.com domain. It's yours. They may not like you using it "for profit" (I know, profit - funny, right?), but that doesn't mean that they have a legal right to overtake it. It can point to nothing, if they want. I'd recommend that you check on your other domain names and get them re-registered ASAP - protect yourself from the league trying to pull any future funny business.

Did they say that we could still mention players' names? Or do we have to come up with codes? Probably couldn't use jersey numbers; they'd get wise to that.

For what it's worth, I have no doubt that this comes directly from the Redskins organization. The league may be the ones executing the plan, but I have to believe that it began in Ashburn.

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[QUOTE=AlvinWalton'sNeckBrace;446120]THE WARPATH...keeping AWNB's test grades lower than expected since 2006[/QUOTE]

That's a great sig!

Anyway, we don't who the request came from. Might have been the Redskins, might have been the NFL

Either way, it's been handled cordially and professionally. And all we can do now is move forward. So let's try to take the high road here.

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I don't believe I could ever post on a <name removed for fear of copyright violation) fan site if this one was to be shut down. For one thing, ES's color scheme hurts my eyes, and there are just waay too many idi........ well, I just like this place better and let's leave it at that.

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Hey, so does that mean I have to change my name from Skinsguy to Xguy? lol!

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NFL has to protect its brand. It sucks, but it is what it is. They've got waaaaay too much coin to do battle with. Contact may have been from the NFL but it could've been prompted by R*d$k1n$ (don't want any copyright issues) Park. ExtremeSkins hasn't been owned by the R*d$k1n$ that long and they're probably just getting around to squeezing the competition so they're the only game in town. ES needs some help to force people with enough knowledge to form complete sentences to get on their site (Dirtbag, that's your cue for some ES-speak).

We've got some great folks here. I'll be here as long as the site is up and I never post anywhere else.

Thanks to Matty & all the Mods. :grouphug:

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I will never...NEVER become a regular member of ES...half of that stuff is just trash...this site is sooo much better

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I just want to say thanks to the founder of the warpath and to everybody here who contributes. I learn more about our team (and some other stuff) than I do elsewhere.

Keep up the great work!!!

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That sucks. I've had my avatar since the very beginning.

Obviously the NFL hasn't contacted all fans sites (yet). Check out this [URL="http://www.finheaven.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220340"]site[/URL] by Dolphins fans. Also, check out the very first avatar in that thread. That's one I wouldn't mine having ... if it meets the NFL's approval of course.

Anyway, they've got logos and photos all over the place. I also checked out a forum for the Bears and Broncos. Same deal.

Either the NFL just isn't on to them yet, or Matty was just lucky and his site just happened to be picked.

Go play your lotto numbers Matty.

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Thanks so much Matty. For the past couple days I've been getting 403 when I try to log on. I am a big fan of the --- and the --------. I hope that I can keep talking about them without the cops busting down my door when I tell my friends that the ------- suck or that the ----- ---- is a national holiday regardless of who's playing. I guess they just want our cash, not our affection. Does that make the --- a hooker?

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If possible, would the moderators consider sending an email to all registered users describing the latest situation. This would cover new users like me who may miss the new URL instructions.

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Okay what I do not understand is if it is a video on YOU TUBE, then why do you have to ban it on your site.

If the NFL has an issue with that, then their issue is with YOU TUBE and not this site.

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[quote=Beemnseven;446134]That sucks. I've had my avatar since the very beginning.

Obviously the NFL hasn't contacted all fans sites (yet). Check out this [URL="http://www.finheaven.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220340"]site[/URL] by Dolphins fans. Also, check out the very first avatar in that thread. That's one I wouldn't mine having ... if it meets the NFL's approval of course.

Anyway, they've got logos and photos all over the place. I also checked out a forum for the Bears and Broncos. Same deal.

Either the NFL just isn't on to them yet, or Matty was just lucky and his site just happened to be picked.

Go play your lotto numbers Matty.[/quote]

yeah I even mentioned that basic point, I said I wasn't aware I was doing anything wrong since every fan site out there uses logos and stuff. They said they are aware of it but they can only deal with them as issues come up, whatever that meant. They even asked me if there are sites out there I wanted to direct them to and I said nah, I'm definitely not interested in throwing others under the bus.

I think our highlight videos got their attention and things just snowballed.

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[quote=Boston Brave;446136]If possible, would the moderators consider sending an email to all registered users describing the latest situation. This would cover new users like me who may miss the new URL instructions.[/quote]

good idea I can try that.

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[QUOTE=sandtrapjack;446138]Okay what I do not understand is if it is a video on YOU TUBE, then why do you have to ban it on your site.

If the NFL has an issue with that, then their issue is with YOU TUBE and not this site.[/QUOTE]

Right. I don't think they could actually do anything about that; other than strongarm their will upon those that don't feel like fighting them. Bully tactics.