'Redskins' Stripped Of Trademarks

[FWS]

'Redskins' stripped of trademarks


Under the decision, the NFL will lose several benefits of federal registration of the trademark.

By JONATHAN TOPAZ and LUCY MCCALMONT
Politico.com
6/18/14 10:20 AM EDT

In a major blow to the Washington Redskins, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday canceled six federal trademarks of the “Washington Redskins” team name because it was found to be “disparaging” to Native Americans.

“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 PTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board wrote.

Five Native Americans in 2006 brought the petition, Blackhorse v. Pro Football, Inc., aimed at stripping the half-dozen trademark registrations for the term “Redskins.”

Under the decision, the National Football League will lose several benefits of federal registration of the trademark, including the use of the federal registration symbol.

Federal trademark law prohibits trademark registrations that “may disparage” groups or individuals.

“The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board agreed with our clients that the team’s name and trademarks disparage Native Americans,” said Jesse Witten, the plaintiffs’ lead attorney. “The Board ruled that the Trademark Office should never have registered these trademarks in the first place.”

The ruling, though, does not require that the Washington Redskins franchise change its name or stop using its trademark.

“I hope this ruling brings us a step closer to that inevitable day when the name of the Washington football team will be changed,” plaintiff Amanda Blackhorse said. “The team’s name is racist and derogatory.”

In May, 50 senators — 48 Democrats and two Independents — wrote NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell urging him to change the team’s name. The campaign, spearheaded by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and signed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), was not circulated amongst Republicans.

“The N.F.L. can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur,” the letter read.

The league shot the request down later that day.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) is co-sponsoring a bill to amend the 1946 Lanham Act, the law that prohibits the registration of trademarks that disparage a group. Her legislation would include “Redskins” as a disparaging term if it is contained in a trademark with connotations to the Native American community and thus strip companies and products—such as the Washington Redskins—of their trademark registration.

[trappincoyotes39]

Except for the logo stays they would have a lawsuit if they tried to take away the logo.

Again thin skinned people of today, where was the trade mark ban in 95, 2000 or 2008?

The funny thing is I feel this will ignite the NFL and the owner to dig in even deeper against our govt on this issue. Oh well the saga will continue on. The NFL has plenty of money to fight this for along time if they choose to do so.

[bblwi]

As with most large issues in the USA we find what color is really important in the end, not white, brown, black, yellow or red but GREEN!!!! Capitalism has a way of changing the norms whether we like it or not.

Bryce

[FWS]

I feel this will ignite the NFL and the owner to dig in even deeper against our govt on this issue.

And I think it ignites the fire that'll cause them to fold and pressure Washington's owner to change the team name.

It's also not really the govt. here, it is private citizens using their government, as is their right, to address their grievances.

Another factor is that with this ruling the NFL has lost the right to license the Washington trademark and thus will no longer profit from it, with reports stating that the licensing and merchandising of NFL trademarked goods is shared amongst the owners.

[trappincoyotes39]

Where do you think the NFL will loose its money? They Lost the trade mark logo and such, but the redskins team can still market and sell their merchandise and the NFL by law can still get a percentage of those sales in agreement with the teams. Your information is well wrong. They also can still have a copy right and that protects the logo.

Might want to give this a read as to what this decision really means.


msn.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/washington-redskins-lose-trademark-protection-what-now-061814

[Jarhead620]

Political Correctness running wild. Get a grip and quit your whining people.

Roll eyes.

Jarhead

[trappnman]

again the question arises- why do we not use names about Jews, Blacks or eastern Europeans?

but Indians- aw, they are only redskins, they need to toughen up

why, they not only have red skin- but its damn thin as well

its NOT a political correct issue- its a damn RESPECT issue

[thorsmightyhammer]

I can agree with that Steve. But what about UND and using Sioux or the Cleveland Indians.

Those aren't derogatory terms.

When the owners cave and they will will it solve the problems in the Indian community?

[Gerald Schmitt]

Steve, if Redskins is not OK, how about Indians, Chiefs, Braves, or Blackhawks? Do you think these names are racist? Some folks think these are racist also and should be eliminated.

Lots of folks favor censorship, with one major caveat; they get to be the censor.

[trappincoyotes39]

Tman if it truly was a respect issue it could have been dealt with over the last say 3 decades, the team nor the fans see it as a bash on Indians but a name and logo used for a football team. again I don't know many people who call Indians redskins, the term frankly has went out of style.

yes censorship is what much of this is about to have the control to ban things under the heading racist and derogatory. Instead of worrying about real issues and fixes to those issues we shall spend time and money on something like the fighting Sioux or red skins football.

[FWS]

if Redskins is not OK, how about Indians, Chiefs, Braves, or Blackhawks? Do you think these names are racist?

Whose decision is it to make whether those terms are racial slurs or derogatory or not ? In my view the ones who have the right to make that determination are Native Americans, not the team owners, nor the fans, or the general public.

I see no benefit to keeping the name 'Redskins'.

[trappincoyotes39]

So then how do we base what is racist or derogatory then? because native Americans say so then it is? Are they Americans first or native Americans first?

I see nothing wrong with a football team that has used this name for years and doing so in a non racist way causing any harm either. Do they runs ads or talk about Indians in a bad lightA No they do not and who made the logo for the helmets do you know? yes it was a native American who did it with pride and honor. Walter Wetzel who
Was former president of the congress of American Indians. If it was such a racist image and name why did he agree to make the logo?

[trappincoyotes39]

So I guess this Indian and others like him get no play on this issue? only those that oppose such?

Don Wetzel: Don’t call Redskins logo offensive
By Scott Mansch; 1:01 p.m. MST February 19, 2014

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There has been considerable controversy over the logo and, especially, nickname of the Washington Redskins in recent months.

It was certainly true during Super Bowl week when Washington owner Daniel Snyder was urged by many, including national TV personalities Sean Hannity and Keith Olbermann, to scrap “Redskins.”

You know, because it’s the decent and honorable thing to do.

“They’re all missing the boat,” said Don Wetzel Sr.

Walter “Blackie” Wetzel was Don’s father, a Blackfeet Nation political leader who a half-century ago was the president of the National Congress of American Indians. Blackie, who was a great athlete in his day, became well-acquainted with Montana leaders like Mike Mansfield and Lee Metcalf.

The man who was born near Cut Bank Creek on the Blackfeet Reservation eventually moved to Washington D.C. and became good friends with President John F. Kennedy.

“My father,” said Don, “was a great man.”

In the early 1970s, Blackie approached ownership of the Redskins and proposed designing a helmet logo.

“He did it the right way,” said Don. “It wasn’t some thrown together, fly-by-night deal. It’s something that represents the Red Nation in a positive way.”

And, he said, it doesn’t matter if many see it as offensive.

“Here’s the deal,” Don said. “Blackie was a smart egg. He called in leaders from other tribes and they worked on it a long time. They modeled it after the likeness on the ‘Buffalo Head nickel.’ ”

Don, a great athlete himself at Cut Bank and the University of Montana who later coached high school and college basketball, recalled the reaction his father received when unveiling the new logo.

“They said it was perfect,” he said.

Don’t suggest to Don Wetzel that the logo, or Redskins nickname for that manner, is derogatory whatsoever.

“No, no, no, no,” he said.

Marvin Anderson, a retired attorney from Great Falls, grew up with and became a great friend to the Wetzel family in Cut Bank.

“Blackie coached me,” he said of youth basketball teams back in the day. “He really became quite a political leader.”

Anderson’s memories of Blackie, who died at age 88 about 10 years, are all positive.

“He was an excellent athlete from what I understand, and he knew ball. He influenced a lot of us to be competitive,” Anderson said.

When Anderson was a senior in 1966, the Cut Bank Wolves won the state basketball championship. Don Wetzel was a junior on a team that also included Anderson, future balladeer Rob Quist and Great Falls resident Carl Christofferson.

“I was a back bencher,” Anderson said. “But these other guys, they were good.”

Don Wetzel was the best of the bunch.

“Anybody who ever played with him or against him would say the same thing,” Anderson said. “This guy was great.”

Don eventually played basketball for the Montana Grizzlies. He’s now involved with the establishment of the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame, which is scheduled to have a permanent home this summer at Montana State Billings.

“I’m here to tell you,” Anderson said. “Donnie was the best player I ever saw. There have been some great ones over the years, but he had a ferocious desire to win and just would not back away. He was always going to the hoop. I never saw anybody who could beat him in high school.”

And one more thing.

“Donnie always had that fire. He still does,” Anderson said.

In recent years, Wetzel has lived in Great Falls and has struggled with health issues. But in a recent call to the sports department of the Great Falls Tribune, Don displayed some of his trademark fire. It came when describing his angst over news reports that members of the Oneida Indian Nation met with human rights representatives at the United Nations in hopes that organization might pressure the Washington Redskins to eliminate their nickname and logo.

“What a bunch of BS,” said Don. “Keith Olbermann’s secretary called me looking for an interview, but I don’t care for him (Olbermann denies attempting to contact Wetzel). So I decided to call you. I’ve known you for a long time, my friend, and I know you’ll tell this story the right way.”

And that story is this:

“It needs to be said that an Indian from the state of Montana created that logo, and he did it the right way,” Don said. “It represents the Red Nation and it’s something to be proud of.”

[FWS]

because native Americans say so then it is?

Being that they are the aggrieved group in this case, yes.

They're not the only ones who view 'redskin' as a derogatory term BTW.

Are they Americans first or native Americans first?

So 'real Americans' use terms like 'redskin' or other racial slurs ?

I see nothing wrong with a football team that has used this name for years

I see no reason to keep the team name, there's no meaningful legacy behind naming the team, the owner who did choose that name was obviously himself a racist, and it does nothing to honor Native Americans.

[skidway]

My native American friends find the whole charade laughable and could care less about it. As a half breed my opinion doesn't count I'm told but my father certainly would have had fun with it.

[blackhammer]

Change it and let's say fans put together a movement to continue calling the team the Redskins despite mainstream media and the league. Then what? Tar and feather fans who use the name? Another waste of time and energy over a stupid issue instead of actually helping people. Same as the stupid Sterling deal or Don Imus a few years ago. The political correct police. Hey and remember this if a congressmen or athlete or actor anyone in the spotlight was found to be trapping animals could you imagine the political correctness police and media's outrage? This country's becoming anything but a free and independent nation. But just the opposite. Watch what you say even in private they will be coming for you. lol

[trappincoyotes39]

FWS the man that created the logo saw nothing wrong with it or did his Indian friends who helped as well............. So trying to say there is a majority behind this in the Indian nation is not factual now is it. What native American would offer to do the logo for the redskins if he or she found it racist or shameful?

Blackhammer of course they would , they would call for their job if found caught trapping an animal such a cruel and inhumane action

Imagine of Brad Pitt went coyote trapping for a week what the outcry from Hollywood would be

[FWS]

So trying to say there is a majority behind this in the Indian nation is not factual now is it.

The Indian nation ? How about recognizing that Native American tribes are each themselves nations that have local sovereignty.

What about the rights of individuals or those sovereign nations to make their own decisions on what they would consider derogatory ? Rather than you wanting to impose majority rule.

You guys still have yet to make a reasoned argument why the term is not a racial slur or why the simple act of changing a sports teams name will bring about this societal destruction you so fear.

[trappincoyotes39]

FWS I knew you would angle of the words Indian nation

Sovereign yes but not all native Americans find it offensive..............

As you stated on another post forcing change and nibbling away , that is how we do it here in the USA correct? Under many guises like racial, cruel and inhumane , derogatory etc...................

[FWS]

As you stated on another post forcing change and nibbling away , that is how we do it here in the USA correct?

So you're thinking that to protect hunting, trapping, animal agriculture, etc. there is a vital need to protect racial slurs................



You've jumped off the deep end............... Again.............