Saturday, September 16, 2006

It had to happen

We read:

"Six American Indian young people from across the country filed a joint petition with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Aug. 11 for the cancellation of the Washington Redskins football organization's trademarked term, ''Redskins.''

Source


If they lose their trademark the team will still be able to use the name, but will not be able to charge anyone licensing fees for use of the name.

What's interesting about this legal action is it's strictly punitive: it doesn't decrease the use of the "derogatory" name but actually increases its use, since now people will be able to sell "Washington Redskins" memorabilia without paying a license fee. The only other effect will be to hurt the team financially.

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