The Phillies hope changes to the Phanatic are enough to avoid infringing on the mascot's copyrightGETTY IMAGES
The Phillies have "shaken up the look of their beloved" mascot Phanatic, but fans are "none too happy about it," according to Jacob Baumgart of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The new Phanatic, who is "known for playfully shaking his hefty belly, has lost some weight," and now his "rump is larger and has a bright blue tip." The mascot also has "freshened up his sneakers and even sprouted some feathers on his arms." The Phillies "seem to hope the changes are enough to avoid the infringing on the mascot's 35-year-old copyright." Copyright law allows the terms of the agreement to be redrawn after 35 years, and the Phanatic's is "set to expire June 15." Meanwhile, fans "ranting over the new Phanatic have started using the hashtag '#NotMyPhanatic'" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/25). In Delaware, Jack McLoone noted the "differences are subtle, but they're there." McLoone: "Instead of round circles behind his eyes, now he has stars, plus his eyebrows are bushier. His wings are a bit longer. He's ditched his neon green shoes for red ones featuring the Liberty Bell and swapped out his red socks for blue ones with striping at the top. He's also added some fancy blue feathers to his tail, and his snout is less funnel, more cylinder now" (Wilmington NEWS JOURNAL, 2/24). But MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi said of the side-by-side comparison of the old and new Phanatic, “A lot of hype for not many changes” (“Hot Stove,” MLB Network, 2/24).
PAY THAT MAN HIS MONEY: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe wrote he would advise the Phillies "to pay the creators and move on." If the team "could afford to pay former manager Gabe Kapler millions of dollars, they can certainly shell out a few bucks for the most beloved member of their team." Tornoe: "If you think it would be easy for the Phillies to simply come up with a new mascot, think again, because the history of Philadelphia sports it littered with bad ideas mocked by fans and tossed to the scrap heap of history" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/25).
