Yay Patent Office!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Who knows where this will end up, but at least it's something:

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office canceled the Washington Redskins’ trademark registration on Wednesday, a move that won’t force the NFL team to change its name but fuels the intense fight by opponents to eliminate what they view as a racial slur against Native Americans.

The 99-page decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board said the team’s name and logo are disparaging. It dilutes the Redskins’ legal protection against infringement and hinders the team’s ability to block counterfeit merchandise from entering the country.

The ruling can't stop the team from selling merchandise with the name and the trademark is still in effect during any appeal process, so realistically there is still a long way to go.

But it's something.