Bye Bye Redskins?

[Big Bid'Ness]

 

Redskins Hit Back: Why They Refuse To Change Their Name



The culture war raged on this thing. The Obama administration thinking that it struck a powerful blow to one of the largest and most popular sports teams in American history, The Washington Redskins. The trademark protections the franchise held were canceled by the US Patent and Trademark office, because they are ‘disparaging’. In a society that is growing more and more politically correct, does the government have the ability to tell a company it has to change it’s name?
The Washington Redskins attorney Bob Raskopf replied to the ruling in a statement (via the Washington Post):

“We’ve seen this story before. And just like last time, today’s ruling will have no effect at all on the team’s ownership of and right to use the Redskins name and logo.
‘Redskins Are Denied Trademarks’
-Washington Post, April 3, 1999
‘Redskins Can Keep Trademark, Judge Rules’
-Washington Post, October 2, 2003
We are confident we will prevail once again, and that the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board’s divided ruling will be overturned on appeal. This case is no different than an earlier case, where the Board cancelled the Redskins’ trademark registrations, and where a federal district court disagreed and reversed the Board.
As today’s dissenting opinion correctly states, “the same evidence previously found insufficient to support cancellation” here “remains insufficient” and does not support cancellation.
This ruling – which of course we will appeal – simply addresses the team’s federal trademark registrations, and the team will continue to own and be able to protect its marks without the registrations. The registrations will remain effective while the case is on appeal.
When the case first arose more than 20 years ago, a federal judge in the District of Columbia ruled on appeal in favor of the Washington Redskins and their trademark registrations.
Why?
As the district court’s ruling made clear in 2003, the evidence ‘is insufficient to conclude that during the relevant time periods the trademark at issue disparaged Native Americans…’ The court continued, ‘The Court concludes that the [Board’s] finding that the marks at issue ‘may disparage’ Native Americans is unsupported by substantial evidence, is logically flawed, and fails to apply the correct legal standard to its own findings of fact.’ Those aren’t my words. That was the court’s conclusion. We are confident that when a district court review’s today’s split decision, it will reach a similar conclusion.
In today’s ruling, the Board’s Marc Bergsman agreed, concluding in his dissenting opinion:
It is astounding that the petitioners did not submit any evidence regarding the Native American population during the relevant time frame, nor did they introduce any evidence or argument as to what comprises a substantial composite of that population thereby leaving it to the majority to make petitioner’s case have some semblance of meaning.
The evidence in the current claim is virtually identical to the evidence a federal judge decided was insufficient more than ten years ago. We expect the same ultimate outcome here.”

All through the history of the franchise the Red Skins have been framed as a tribute and not a ‘slur’. The original owner of the team is even buried at Indian Mound Cemetery in Romney, West Virginia.
A new precedent is being set for government over reach, and the people must demand this be overturned.
(HT - Washington Post)

 

[Hurricane Season]

Their stubbornness is pretty stupid.  I don't think this is a battle they can win anymore. 

 

[Fuhgeddaboudit]

Please don't call them the Pigskins. As a fat person, I'm very offended

 

[playmaker7]

I don't see why they keep fighting it tbh.
 
It's cultural appropriation and it should be evident to everyone that the team is in need of a name change.

 

[Fuhgeddaboudit]

Surprised they want to fight it. Imagine how many more jersey sales they'll have after a name change. 

 

[footballplaya52]

Washington Foreskins

 

[buzzy]

Washington Foreskins

I am a Muslim and this is so offensive

 

[TTN2810]

I like the Washington Generals. Just sounds right, doesn't it?

 

[Teagz]

That's the name of the team that plays against the Globetrotters lol

 

[bosoxlover12]

I just want to point out... if they change names, we'll all get used to it fairly quickly, even if its really stupid. If we can have the goddamn "Pellies" in the NBA, we can have basically anything

 

[TTN2810]

That's the name of the team that plays against the Globetrotters lol

That was the joke lol

 

[elcheato]

Washington ExtraSmall Condoms

 

[Teagz]

Washington Friendship?

 

[TTN2810]

How about name the team after a great American: The Washington Washingtons. Go Washingtons! 
 
Side note: really look at and think about the word Washington. It's weird as fuck.

 

[Fuhgeddaboudit]

I just want to point out... if they change names, we'll all get used to it fairly quickly, even if its really stupid. If we can have the goddamn "Pellies" in the NBA, we can have basically anything

Yeah, the name Pelicans is pretty pathetic

 

[footballplaya52]

Washington FBI's

 

[Thomas-Panda-Saxby]

Washington Crips

 

[Fuhgeddaboudit]

Washington Crips

 
wut did u just say 

 

[Hurricane Season]

The Fightin' Nancy Pelosi's

 

[Delirium]

Yeah, the name Pelicans is pretty pathetic

It might seem so at first
 
But then you realize that pelicans are actually terrifying