“I’ll never change the name of the Redskins. You have my word on that.” — Daniel Snyder, current owner of the Washington Redskins.
And so continues the latest controversy over the name of a professional sports team. Last year, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) canceled the Washington Redskins’ trademark registration, citing the federal trademark statute that prohibits the registration of trademarks that are disparaging. Specifically, Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act states, “No trademark … shall be refused registration … unless it … consists of … matter which may disparage.” The team vowed to fight the cancellation of their mark. An appeal has been filed and the case will be heard by the Eastern District of Virginia this June. Whatever the outcome, further appeal is likely.
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