1971 - "Scouting/USA"....2018 "Scouts USA"

[Jameson76]

History often (somewhat) repeats itself

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting/USA

Scouting/USA was a "communicative name" chosen by the Boy Scouts of America in 1971 in an effort to rebrand itself.  The Scouting/USA symbol was unveiled at its biennial National Council meeting.  The organization retained the name Boy Scouts of America as its legal name, but planned to use the new name on literature, billboards, insignia, business cards and stationery and for most other promotional material. They abandoned this effort by 1980.

[qwazse]

Cross-posting ...

Agree that first-draft names rarely stick. Things will eventually get called what folks want to call them.

[NJCubScouter]

I imagine the GSUSA might have had something to say (and perhaps legitimately in my opinion) about the BSA using "Scouting/USA."  (They might not actually have said anything at the time, because the BSA was not recruiting 5-14 year old girls at the time, which they are now.)  That is probably one of the reasons the BSA is not using "Scouts USA" now, they are using "Scouts BSA."  That one letter may be the difference between a successful lawsuit by the GSUSA and an unsuccessful one, or, more likely, no lawsuit at all.

Nothing in this post constitutes a legal opinion or advice nor does this post create an attorney-client relationship.  Contact an attorney in your state for legal advice.

[AltadenaCraig]

1 hour ago, NJCubScouter said:

That is probably one of the reasons the BSA is not using "Scouts USA" now, they are using "Scouts BSA."

Nothing in this post constitutes a legal opinion or advice nor does this post create an attorney-client relationship.  Contact an attorney in your state for legal advice.

More likely the ribbon above the uniform right breast pocket, which for Cubs and Venturers says "Cub Scouts BSA" and "Venturing BSA".  Seems reasonable that "Scouts BSA" would be a logical fit between the other two programs.

[NJCubScouter]

18 minutes ago, AltadenaCraig said:

More likely the ribbon above the uniform right breast pocket, which for Cubs and Venturers says "Cub Scouts BSA" and "Venturing BSA".  Seems reasonable that "Scouts BSA" would be a logical fit between the other two programs.

The strip above the right pocket on a Cub Scout uniform shirt says "Boy Scouts of America."

https://www.scoutshop.org/cub-scout-short-sleeve-shirt.html

[AltadenaCraig]

Well that’s what I get for relying on my memory; nice catch NJCubScouter (I’ll swear that strip read Cub Scouts BSA in my day ... but that was 50 years ago!)

[MikeS72]

7 hours ago, AltadenaCraig said:

I’ll swear that strip read Cub Scouts BSA in my day ... but that was 50 years ago!

You are not suffering from memory loss, at least not when it comes to the older Cub uniforms.  Back in the days before the strip was changed to read 'Boy Scouts of America', it did indeed say 'Cub Scouts BSA.'  Those of us who are old enough (I first joined in 1961, back when you had to 8 to be a Cub) remember that uniform; along with Lion being the top rank (no Webelos back then), rather than an introductory Kindergarten program.

We also remember the brief period in the 70's when the Boy Scout uniform was changed to say 'Scout BSA', rather that the previous and current 'Boy Scouts of America'.

 

Edited May 4, 2018 by MikeS72

[qwazse]

Well, one good thing about lawsuits, interesting tidbits of history surface:

Quote

41. Defendant has long acknowledged that use of the SCOUT or SCOUTING marks, unaccompanied by distinguishing terms or devoid of context, even in connection with its  programs for boys, could result in confusion. For example, on January 23, 1979, Defendant conceded in a letter to GSUSA that its use of its SCOUTING/USA mark (which obviously combines SCOUTING with the merely descriptive and therefore non-distinctive term “USA”) could mislead the public into believing that GSUSA is affiliated with BSA, or could be confusing to donors who intended to donate to BSA or GSUSA. For this reason, BSA took care at that time to make sure that its councils and troops included BSA’s full name in marketing materials in which that mark was used. A true and accurate copy of this correspondence is attached as Exhibit D. Upon information and belief, this trademark is no longer used by BSA.

42. In another communication sent by BSA to GSUSA on April 26, 1978, Defendant stated that it had taken “several steps that should assist potential public confusion that the communicative term Scouting/USA also refers to [GSUSA]. For one thing, we have instructed our Scouters, including our Public Relations staff, to use the term sparingly, and when it is used to always also feature the words ‘Boy Scouts of America.’” A true and accurate copy of this correspondence is attached as Exhibit E. Significantly, these steps to prevent potential confusion caused by the use of the term SCOUTING/USA were taken, even though BSA only admitted boys to its central programs at that time.

Case 1:18-cv-10287 Document 1 Filed 11/06/18 Pof

So, BSA didn't abandon "Scouting/USA" out of mere lack of enthusiasm. GS/USA clearly was defending their brand in light of girls joining Explorers and Swedish young women visiting BSA's National Jamborees.