Patent Office Cancels Redskins Trademark

[Zakza]

Although really, it'd be better to change the name.

Oh, come on, think of the stuff that could come out of it.

"Our rivals got MASHED today."
"The ball really was a hot potato -- it got passed a lot."
"Man, the defense was FRIED...."

Preach

[4years]

Cool, I guess. Now they can think of a real name.

Washington Jews, anyone?

No, the Jews are New York team.

Washington Politicians, with an Obama mascot as an added extra.

[Llamalandia]

Wow. Lol. No. Freedom of speech. Sure it's racist by so what? The United States of America doesn't do this. We don't restrict speech. He'll we let the sons of confederate vets put the stars and bars on licenses plates and let the kkk a racially biased (former?) terrorist organization adopt a stretch a highway. Is it racist? Yes. Blatantly so? Yeah. Do people really care that much? No not really their are some a rather small minority, but still they feel rightly aggrieved by the redskins and that's fine. It's their prerogative. However it's not the job of the us fed govt to change football team names (effectively).

[Geilinor]

Wow. Lol. No. Freedom of speech. Sure it's racist by so what? The United States of America doesn't do this. We don't restrict speech. He'll we let the sons of confederate vets put the stars and bars on licenses plates and let the kkk a racially biased (former?) terrorist organization adopt a stretch a highway. Is it racist? Yes. Blatantly so? Yeah. Do people really care that much? No not really their are some a rather small minority, but still they feel rightly aggrieved by the redskins and that's fine. It's their prerogative. However it's not the job of the us fed govt to change football team names (effectively).

They aren't being forced to change their name, they just can't trademark it. It's a way of making it harder to profit off of derogatory terms.

[United Dependencies]

Wow. Lol. No. Freedom of speech. Sure it's racist by so what? The United States of America doesn't do this. We don't restrict speech. He'll we let the sons of confederate vets put the stars and bars on licenses plates and let the kkk a racially biased (former?) terrorist organization adopt a stretch a highway. Is it racist? Yes. Blatantly so? Yeah. Do people really care that much? No not really their are some a rather small minority, but still they feel rightly aggrieved by the redskins and that's fine. It's their prerogative. However it's not the job of the us fed govt to change football team names (effectively).

I'm really interested in hearing you connect the dots as to how a decision by a patent board prevents Snyder from naming the team whatever he wants.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Wow. Lol. No. Freedom of speech. Sure it's racist by so what? The United States of America doesn't do this. We don't restrict speech.

Uh, Llama? The courts have repeatedly ruled that we can restrict commercial speech, which trademarks are.

[Llamalandia]

All this is effectively a sort of implicit prior restraint on free speech. Anyway it's also highly violative of of equal protection. That said the office might have found some back door way to cancel the trademark to at least give some appearance of propriety, yet it looks as though they fairly straightforwardly said essentially " the USA approves of one kind of commercial speech and not another." I can foresee this making it to SCOTUS eventually.

[United Dependencies]

All this is effectively a sort of implicit prior restraint on free speech. Anyway it's also highly violative of of equal protection. That said the office might have found some back door way to cancel the trademark to at least give some appearance of propriety, yet it looks as though they fairly straightforwardly said essentially " the USA approves of one kind of commercial speech and not another." I can foresee this making it to SCOTUS eventually.

I admit, I grinned a little.

[Geilinor]

All this is effectively a sort of implicit prior restraint on free speech. Anyway it's also highly violative of of equal protection. That said the office might have found some back door way to cancel the trademark to at least give some appearance of propriety, yet it looks as though they fairly straightforwardly said essentially " the USA approves of one kind of commercial speech and not another." I can foresee this making it to SCOTUS eventually.

There's no backdoor, take a look at the Patent Office's rules.

[Llamalandia]

Wow. Lol. No. Freedom of speech. Sure it's racist by so what? The United States of America doesn't do this. We don't restrict speech.

Uh, Llama? The courts have repeatedly ruled that we can restrict commercial speech, which trademarks are.

Yes it's true or rather that used to be through roughly the 80s since then courts including the supreme have actually been shying away from excepting commercial speech from 1st amend protection, and I look for this court to possibly abandon the central Hudson test altogether in the near future.

[Viritica]

The state of Washington isn't Washington DC. None of those names are fitting.

The Redskins' hometown is Washington, DC...

I know that. I didn't say it was.

[Llamalandia]

All this is effectively a sort of implicit prior restraint on free speech. Anyway it's also highly violative of of equal protection. That said the office might have found some back door way to cancel the trademark to at least give some appearance of propriety, yet it looks as though they fairly straightforwardly said essentially " the USA approves of one kind of commercial speech and not another." I can foresee this making it to SCOTUS eventually.

There's no backdoor, take a look at the Patent Office's rules.

Surely there must have been something? Say its a generically racist term. It wouldn't be struck on account of being racist rather, it would be argued that the mark itself is now essentially use in a generic sense and hence no longer allowed to be protected.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

All this is effectively a sort of implicit prior restraint on free speech.

No, it isn't. Nobody is stating that they cannot call the team whatever they want.

Anyway it's also highly violative of of equal protection.

No.

That said the office might have found some back door way to cancel the trademark to at least give some appearance of propriety, yet it looks as though they fairly straightforwardly said essentially " the USA approves of one kind of commercial speech and not another."

You cannot trademark terms that are patently offensive. This is basic law, and has been for some years now.

I can foresee this making it to SCOTUS eventually.

Doubtful that the NFL will think that it's worth the expense.

[Gaelic Celtia]

The Redskins' hometown is Washington, DC...

I know that. I didn't say it was.

Yes....you....you very clearly did.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Uh, Llama? The courts have repeatedly ruled that we can restrict commercial speech, which trademarks are.

Yes it's true or rather that used to be through roughly the 80s since then courts including the supreme have actually been shying away from excepting commercial speech from 1st amend protection, and I look for this court to possibly abandon the central Hudson test altogether in the near future.

As they're still allowed to call the team whatever they want to call it, the First Amendment doesn't apply.

[Viritica]

I know that. I didn't say it was.

Yes....you....you very clearly did.

No... I... I... Didn't. Your reading comprehension is subpar.

[Geilinor]

There's no backdoor, take a look at the Patent Office's rules.

Surely there must have been something?

No. You need to read the article again.

[Geilinor]

Yes....you....you very clearly did.

No... I... I... Didn't. Your reading comprehension is subpar.

You said names relating to the US federal government didn't work because "this is Washington state, not Washington, D.C."

[Estado Paulista]

Cool, I guess. Now they can think of a real name.

Washington Jews, anyone?

Washington Wetbacks.

[Union Of Canadorian Socialists Republic]

Just like the NJ Devils. Pittsburgh Pirates. Minnesota Vikings.

Get over it. Try solving real problems.

I love the irony of demanding national rights for a race or creed isn't racism or discrimination but naming a football team Redskins is. Subjective much?

Devil, pirate, and viking aren't racist terms.

What about the Fighting Irish?

[Viritica]

No... I... I... Didn't. Your reading comprehension is subpar.

You said names relating to the US federal government didn't work because "this is Washington state, not Washington, D.C."

Exactly.

[Gaelic Celtia]

Yes....you....you very clearly did.

No... I... I... Didn't. Your reading comprehension is subpar.

So you didnt say this then?

Washington Congressmen.

Washington Founding Fathers.

Washington Presidents.

The state of Washington isn't Washington DC. None of those names are fitting.

[Viritica]

Cool, I guess. Now they can think of a real name.

Washington Jews, anyone?

Washington Wetbacks.

Washington Crackers.

[Viritica]

No... I... I... Didn't. Your reading comprehension is subpar.

So you didnt say this then?

The state of Washington isn't Washington DC. None of those names are fitting.

Yes, I did.

[Gaelic Celtia]

Cool, I guess. Now they can think of a real name.

Washington Jews, anyone?

Washington Wetbacks.

Hey now I said it first!