The Washington To Be Named Laters, everyone!
The Washington, D.C. team that competes in the National Football League has a lot of things, from their billionaire owner Daniel Snyder to their award-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III, but the one thing they don’t have anymore is a team name. For decades, the team competed as the Washington Redskins, but with the rise in political correctness and an increased distaste by American Indians concerning the use of their names as company sales points, the Redskins have found themselves in hot water, with both Native American groups and the United States Senate petitioning the football team to change their name. Daniel Snyder has been resistant; now, he may not have a choice. The US Patent Office has thrown out the Washington Redskins trademark, deeming it offensive.
“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,” said the Trademark Trial and Appeals board.
The Redskins have lost the right to call themselves the Redskins, at least in terms of entertainment purposes. The team is also going to lose the rights to the name of their cheerleading squad, the horribly-named Redskinettes, for similar exhibition purposes. Daniel Snyder, who has ignored the outcry and even hired a marketing firm to get some PR on his side of the argument, is no doubt preparing himself for a court fight over the name to his football team. Until then, you can still get your fill of Redskins merchandise on the NFL Shop website.
Tags: washington redskins, washington, d.c., washington redskins lose name trademark, us patent office, us patent office throws out washington redskins trademark, dan snyder, nfl, national football league, football, professional football, trademark trial and appeals board, redskins lose trademark on their name, native americans, american indians
