Without comment, the Supreme Court on Monday morning denied review in Harjo v. Pro-Football Inc., a challenge brought by Native Americans who assert that the name of the Washington Redskins is offensive and should be denied trademark status.
The long-running dispute began in 1992 when Native American groups sought cancellation of the trademark under the provision of the Lanham Act that prohibits trademarks that disparage persons “living or dead.” But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the challenge was barred by the doctrine of laches, which acts as a statute of limitations to protect defendants from lawsuits over long-ago violations of rights.
