US Patent Office Rules Redskins Name Is Offensive, Cancels Trademarks

[gsj68]

"The U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office cancelled the federal trademarks for the Washington Redskins after ruling that the name was "disparaging to Native Americans."Five Native Americans petitioned the office to cancel six trademarks filed between 1967 and 1990. Under federal law, trademarks that "may disparage persons or bring them into contempt or disrepute" cannot be registered.
The office said in a ruling:
"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, in violation of Section 2(a) of the Trademark Act of 1946, 15 U.S.C. § 1052(a)."
Even if the ruling is upheld, the team can still call itself the Redskins. But without the trademarks, anyone can use the Redskins name to sell merchandise. It essentially puts financial pressure on owner Dan Snyder to change the name."
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-pat...140838307.html

[JustAlex]

Wow!

Does this mean anyone can now use the Washington Redskins likeness and not get sued because they have no trademark???

[ajcorleone]

It mean people have nothing better to do? WHere were these complaints in the 60's 70'80's and so on? When did evreyone get so sensitive?

[JustAlex]

It mean people have nothing better to do? WHere were these complaints in the 60's 70'80's and so on? When did evreyone get so sensitive?

The complaints WERE there, it's just that no one listened.

Even the article says that there have been complaints as early as the 60s....

And yeah, I believe they should change the name....

[ajcorleone]

Guess the media is just giving it play now.I don't know your age but I lived sports from the 1980 on and breath the 4 amjor sports and I never really heard of rumblings.But thats just me

The complaints WERE there, it's just that no one listened.

Even the article says that there have been complaints as late as the 60s....

[gsj68]

i remember people talking about it in the 70's,it a matter of right or wrong

[ajcorleone]

True it is but was it there everywhere you turned like it is now

i remember people talking about it in the 70's,it a matter of right or wrong

[gsj68]

True it is but was it there everywhere you turned like it is now

at one point alot of nasty things were common,its a good sign that humans are increasing their morality

[ajcorleone]

Increasing their morality yes thats good on this topic.But overall sensitivity is also on the rise for lesser topics

at one point alot of nasty things were common,its a good sign that humans are increasing their morality

[gsj68]

Increasing their morality yes thats good on this topic.But overall sensitivity is also on the rise for lesser topics

yep,they make it hard to dig through their make believe drama and find real stories of importance