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geomon666

(7,519 posts) Wed Jun 18, 2014, 10:17 AM Jun 2014

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In Landmark Decision, U.S. Patent Office Cancels Trademark For Redskins Football Team [View all]

Source: ThinkProgress

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has canceled six federal trademark registrations for the name of the Washington Redskins, ruling that the name is “disparaging to Native Americans” and thus cannot be trademarked under federal law that prohibits the protection of offensive or disparaging language.

The U.S. PTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board issued a ruling in the case, brought against the team by plaintiff Amanda Blackhorse, Wednesday morning.

“We decide, based on the evidence properly before us, that these registrations must be cancelled because they were disparaging to Native Americans at the respective times they were registered,” the board wrote in its opinion.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2014/06/18/3450333/in-landmark-decision-us-patent-office-cancels-trademark-for-redskins-football-team/

It's about time. I'm sure Dan Snyder will try to fight this in court. Good luck, asshole.

124 replies

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In Landmark Decision, U.S. Patent Office Cancels Trademark For Redskins Football Team [View all] geomon666 Jun 2014 OP

Holy shit. Orrex Jun 2014 #1

Me too underpants Jun 2014 #5

That was my reaction, too. It's a flanking maneuver. nt msanthrope Jun 2014 #8

Nicely played... giftedgirl77 Jun 2014 #2

I have no problem with this, but Paolo123 Jun 2014 #3

I'll bet you a sawbuck there are enterprising colleagues of mine thinking the msanthrope Jun 2014 #6

They are going after that also. progressoid Jun 2014 #7

You would think that would be an easy fix IronLionZion Jun 2014 #10

The name that the Washington football team has is much more hurtful & hateful than Chief Wahoo, catbyte Jun 2014 #29

Really? Paolo123 Jun 2014 #53

That "proud warrior" is also offensive, because it perpetuates the whole "noble savage" catbyte Jun 2014 #62

+1000 olddad56 Jun 2014 #73

Thanks Paolo123 Jun 2014 #94

That is actually not the origin of the term. whopis01 Jun 2014 #95

i'm sorry so many Americans still don't get it. annm4peace Jun 2014 #116

Sorry, no win. gussmith Jun 2014 #120

If you want to do abolish Chief Wahoo, send your letters / emails to Indians owner Larry Dolan Auggie Jun 2014 #42

I'm a Cleveland fan and they are getting there maxrandb Jun 2014 #81

I grew up in Cleveland and I endorse dumping Wahoo and changing the name Auggie Jun 2014 #88

I don't think anyone has a problem... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2014 #97

Well, "Indians" sure hasn't brought them any luck ... Auggie Jun 2014 #101

Rec! progressoid Jun 2014 #4

Here's the order. mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2014 #9

I'm on page 40ish....what a comprehensive takedown. One for the law books. nt msanthrope Jun 2014 #12

Thanks for the link geomon666 Jun 2014 #14

At that point, the league would have to step in KamaAina Jun 2014 #45

money is a powerful motivator. yurbud Jun 2014 #80

Fantastic! Smart, very smart...just awesome. K&R Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #11

So will a flood of unofficial merchandise force them to choose a non-offensive name? muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #13

They retain their trademark during appeal, if I'm reading it right. Iggo Jun 2014 #15

If the order holds up.... mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2014 #20

Supreme Court - Here we come packman Jun 2014 #16

Obviously, discretion will be exercised in applying this new precedent. BlueEye Jun 2014 #30

Sir, packman Jun 2014 #33

I suspect that the three ATJs know their stuff. mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2014 #56

According to the OP ashling Jun 2014 #32

you're comparing this to "yellow pages". WTF CreekDog Jun 2014 #52

Give me a break packman Jun 2014 #61

Seriously? Scootaloo Jun 2014 #76

They should change their name to the Bullets. AngryAmish Jun 2014 #17

tee hee. kwassa Jun 2014 #23

Or the Senators packman Jun 2014 #34

or the Washington Bigots. olddad56 Jun 2014 #39

Washington Gridlocks Scootaloo Jun 2014 #77

Here's the name they should go for: The Washington Ospreys. mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2014 #87

That is one kickass bird. MadrasT Jun 2014 #98

Love ospreys. secondvariety Jun 2014 #104

Or the Washington Corporatists. pangaia Jun 2014 #100

fantastic! the RW radio and fox PC cops will scream political correctness! all day certainot Jun 2014 #18

What about the copyrights on movies, books, songs, etc., with offensive content? Chuck Finley Jun 2014 #19

Big difference between a trademark and copyright. Coventina Jun 2014 #21

Both trademarks and copyrights are protections of intellectual property. Chuck Finley Jun 2014 #46

Because, as stated, different statutes onenote Jun 2014 #99

Each individual case must be filed on behalf of those offended. LanternWaste Jun 2014 #22

Actually, movie titles can't be copyrighted. Chuck Finley Jun 2014 #50

Unlikely. You have to actually watch a movie or read a book, voluntarily. arcane1 Jun 2014 #69

Bring the case, and it will judged on its own merits. LanternWaste Jun 2014 #74

Boom! The Executor strikes. sofa king Jun 2014 #24

LOL catbyte Jun 2014 #26

No, this is not a unilateral Obama move, or any Obama move. Jim Lane Jun 2014 #112

Awesome! catbyte Jun 2014 #25

spot on and bravo SummerSnow Jun 2014 #27

Awesome wryter2000 Jun 2014 #28

This might kill an major income source for Daniel Snyder .... kwassa Jun 2014 #31

Dan Snyder would be wasting his time to fight this in court Jack Rabbit Jun 2014 #35

ironically, this actually means that anyone can use the redskins name. unblock Jun 2014 #36

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2014 #37

Changing the name of the Washington NFL team is long overdue... olddad56 Jun 2014 #38

Hip Hip swilton Jun 2014 #40

Licensing Issues bpj62 Jun 2014 #41

Not quite, and oddly enough, it was the same team KamaAina Jun 2014 #48

I stand corrected bpj62 Jun 2014 #63

I think the Charlotte Bobcats and NO Hornets are both changing their names next year. WhoWoodaKnew Jun 2014 #49

Charlotte and New ORleans bpj62 Jun 2014 #67

Locally connected names are always nice, but when the teams move-- eridani Jun 2014 #103

Isn't Utah the home of jazz? kwassa Jun 2014 #107

The "lakes" were the thousands of them in Minnesota eridani Jun 2014 #109

I know, I know ... kwassa Jun 2014 #110

NO already did, to the Pelicans KamaAina Jun 2014 #68

So an image designed by one "Native American" is okay when other Native Americans itsrobert Jun 2014 #54

Image on the Helmet bpj62 Jun 2014 #60

This should have happened long ago. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #43

yes yes yes riverwalker Jun 2014 #44

Maybe the team could claim to be named for potatoes. WinkyDink Jun 2014 #47

I think the Washington WinkyDinks have a good ring to it itsrobert Jun 2014 #55

I'm gonna take a lot of grief about this on here... WhoWoodaKnew Jun 2014 #51

maybe you don't care because it isn't slanderous to you or your heritage olddad56 Jun 2014 #58

You might feel differently if your group was almost exterminated for being "crackers" n/t arcane1 Jun 2014 #75

Do you really need this explained to you? You are part of the dominant racial class. Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #85

There is nothing wrong with you. louielouie Jun 2014 #89

Nonsense. There is nothing unimportant about race relations. Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #90

You are certainly entitled to your perspective. louielouie Jun 2014 #91

I'm entitled to being right as well. And I am right, in case you didn't understand that. Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #93

What specifically leads you to the premise this is merely a distraction? LanternWaste Jun 2014 #92

... randys1 Jun 2014 #57

How is this different... Calista241 Jun 2014 #59

it still brings attention to the issue, and sooner or later the name will change. olddad56 Jun 2014 #72

A good question... Chan790 Jun 2014 #121

Atlanta Braves and the 'tomahawk chop" is racism insitutionalized. Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #64

The tomahawk chop came to Atlanta by way of Tallahassee KamaAina Jun 2014 #70

Then the chop knows how to get back home? And the comical, cartoon racist logo, where was it born? Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #78

You must be thinking of the Cleveland Indians' Chief Wahoo KamaAina Jun 2014 #79

I stand corrected, though the chief mascot is the height of bigotry and racism. Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #82

It is indeed. KamaAina Jun 2014 #84

Wow, I didn't see that coming! arcane1 Jun 2014 #65

The trolls on Raw Story MynameisBlarney Jun 2014 #66

The WASHINGTON WARRIORS! They could try to keep the same warrior logo. vkkv Jun 2014 #71

If you really want to have a laugh maxrandb Jun 2014 #83

No thanks. I don't have any barf bags handy. yellowcanine Jun 2014 #86

K&R DeSwiss Jun 2014 #96

It's actually not a "landmark" decision. Keefer Jun 2014 #102

Interesting W T Sherman Jun 2014 #105

It will be interesting! Agschmid Jun 2014 #108

Florida State Calista241 Jun 2014 #122

I wonder if there is a tax advantage for Synder to have the trademark cancelled over SDjack Jun 2014 #106

Why? For Political Correctness? gussmith Jun 2014 #111

No, for following the law. Jim Lane Jun 2014 #114

Oh Well gussmith Jun 2014 #119

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #113

Wow Marrah_G Jun 2014 #115

Exactly!!! supercats Jun 2014 #117

they could change the name to the Washington Fillibusters RedRocco Jun 2014 #118

This is going to be litigated forever. Calista241 Jun 2014 #123

Yes, let's remove christx30 Jun 2014 #124