Who has the right to call themselves a 'Scout'?
Girl Scouts of the United States of America has sued Boy Scouts of America for dropping "boy" from their name, claiming it damages the brand identity of GSUSA.
Boy Scouts of America announced that it would be dropping the word "boy" from its name and start accepting older girls into its programme in May this year, raising much concern about the integrity of BSA from long-time supporters of the programme.
Now, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America has filed a lawsuit against BSA, claiming that changing the organisation's name to "Scouts BSA" would negatively affect the GSUSA brand. In the lawsuit, GSUSA claimed that there has already been confusion among potential members who have been told that GSUSA "no longer exists or had merged with the Boy Scouts".
The GSUSA wants to block Boy Scouts of America from "using the term 'Scout,' 'Scouts,' 'Scouting,' or 'Scouts BSA'" without clearly marking themselves as separate from Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
BSA replied to the lawsuit, saying it will review the complaint and that it believes "there is an opportunity for both organizations to serve girls and boys in our communities".
Perhaps the dispute would be settled quickly if both groups merged and called themselves the "US Scouts"?
Image: Wochit News