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IRL (In Real Life) => Sports => Topic started by: steve58 on June 18, 2014, 12:32:27 PM

Title: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: steve58 on June 18, 2014, 12:32:27 PM
So I guess if the media/"public outrage" can't force the Redskins to change their name, then the gov't can/will step in to force them.

Quote
The U.S. Patent Office has canceled six trademarks belonging to the Washington Redskins football team, saying they are offensive to Native Americans.

In a decision released Wednesday, the office's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled that "these registrations must be canceled because they [are] disparaging to Native Americans."

The Patent Office said it will continue to treat the trademark registrations as though they are valid while the team appeals the decision. The team has two months to do that, and the whole process could take years.
In the meantime, the Redskins can continue to use the logos.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/18/news/companies/patent-office-redskins/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 18, 2014, 12:43:32 PM
I wonder if that same wedge could be used to cancel Disney's trademarks on Mickey Mouse for the 1930s-era racism in his very early cartoons.  Or Bugs Bunny or Popeye facing off against the Japanese?
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: undercovergeek on June 18, 2014, 12:54:41 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on June 18, 2014, 12:43:32 PM
I wonder if that same wedge could be used to cancel Disney's trademarks on Mickey Mouse for the 1930s-era racism in his very early cartoons.  Or Bugs Bunny or Popeye facing off against the Japanese?

Has someone actually brought the case up or is it do gooders stepping in

We had a few instances over here of the gollywog getting banned, and whilst I'd like to think it was urban myth I think they stopped singing ba ba black sheep in infants schools, there were a few cases recently that involved the Muslim communities to the extent that the spokesmen for them had to come out and say we want you to know the Muslims have nothing to do with this and it eventually turns out to be left wing fool's speaking on their behalf - hence the who started the complaint question
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: Marty Ward on June 18, 2014, 01:11:08 PM
I heard Harry Reid say he wouldn't go to another one of their games until they changed their name. I also heard Snyder was thinking of changing the name to the Reidskins. that ought to make everyone happy!
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: OJsDad on June 18, 2014, 01:15:20 PM
Does anyone know if Snyder has tried to work out a deal with one of the tribes for naming rights.  Something along the lines of what FSU has with the Seminoles. 
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: mirth on June 18, 2014, 02:15:47 PM
The problem is that if the team drops the name Redskins, what are they going to use for a new team name? Whatever name that crappy team uses, it's going to offend someone. The Washington Pink Elephants? Nope, offensive to drunks and elephants.

Why don't they just adopt the unofficial name everyone already uses? The Washington Suckbags.
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 18, 2014, 02:28:09 PM
Because that's offensive to Congress
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: TheCommandTent on June 18, 2014, 03:58:34 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on June 18, 2014, 02:28:09 PM
Because that's offensive to Congress

Ha!
Title: .
Post by: eyebiter on June 18, 2014, 05:14:29 PM
.
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: steve58 on June 18, 2014, 05:30:03 PM
I can only imagine what it would cost the Washington ***(being politically correct here ;))skins to change their name. Maybe Harry Reid can pick up the tab.  He can afford it since he's made millions from all those real estate deals he's done since he's been a "senator"...
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: bbmike on June 18, 2014, 06:15:02 PM
I also have a problem with the name Washington. The team is in Maryland. They should be called the Maryland 'whatevers'.
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 18, 2014, 06:23:08 PM
I like the guy that used to write for Sports Illustrated who used to always call them the "lower Potomac basin indigeneous persons"
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: mirth on June 18, 2014, 06:32:19 PM
LoPoBasIPers
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: undercovergeek on June 19, 2014, 05:40:40 AM
does this mean anyone can simply start printing their t shirts and kit?
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 19, 2014, 05:51:42 AM
Not until the appeal is resolved.  Once an appeal is lodged, the status quo is preserved until the appeal process is done.

They've been through this once before, and the appeal process took 17 years
Title: Re: Redskins trademarks cancelled by US Patent office
Post by: Marty Ward on June 19, 2014, 06:58:56 AM
I think they still own the logo and since the NFL shares money from merchandising even if they lost the trademark to the words Washington Redskins it would not hurt them to much.