more news from the world of sportsESPN Page 2's very own Tuesday Morning Quarterback, aka Gregg Easterbrook, links to a story in the Washington Post about the imminent demise of the team name "R*dsk*ns". At issue is a 1946 law which prohibits the government from "registering a trademark that disparages any race, religion or other group." The plaintiffs argue that, since R*dsk*ns is an offensive term, this law should nullify Washington's trademark rights. Without trademark rights, anyone could print a Washington T-shirt or cap, and therefore the R*dsk*ns would lose all incentive for retaining this moniker because they wouldn't be the sole benefactor of the merchadising money. The club is defending its name on multiple fronts: [The teams] attorneys said yesterday that the "difficult relations" between Anglo-Americans and Native Americans were unfortunate. But, they argued, in the 21st century, the beloved hometown team has changed the connotation of the word "Redskins" to one that is "powerfully positive" -- associated more with touchdowns than tomahawks. Easterbrook clarifies the difference between the Washingtons and the Kansas Cities: Note that TMQ does not object to Chiefs or Braves as team names, since chief and brave are terms of respect. R*dsk*n is "offensive slang," according to the American Heritage Dictionary.He also points out that this is basically an open and shut case, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has previously ruled against the NFL club, only a ruling on the clubs appeal, which expected to be handed down soon, delays the removal of this blight from the NFL. |
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