Redskins name ruled ‘disparaging,’ loses trademark

The latest twist in the debate over the use of the name “Redskins” by Washington D.C.’s professional football team took an unusual turn today. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled the use of Redskins is “disparaging to Native Americans” and canceled the team’s trademark.

Native American groups have fought the use of the name for years.

The ruling means that the team may still use the name and logos, but would no longer have exclusive use of them. It amounts to an economic hit on the team, which pools merchandise revenue with the other National Football League teams.

ESPN reported that the trademarks will remain in effect while the decision is appealed.

Background on the nickname debate, which has heated up in recent years, was one of the items we added this year when we updated the Native American Journalists Association’s “100 Questions, 500 Nations: A Guide to Native America.”

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