Should the Washington Redskins change their name?

[7,052,770]

Have you paid attention lately at all? The Redskins say the name isn't offensive and they won't change. The NFL says the name isn't offensive and they won't change.

If/when the Redskins finally do change their name one day, it will either be because some kind of government forced them to (pretty unlikely) or that the financials simply left them no choice -- it's very obvious from all of the team/league's comments over the last few days/weeks/month/years/decades that they absolutely do not want to and won't do it unless forced.

Obviously companies make poor decisions all the time. (Did you seriously think I was arguing they don't?) But the odds of the Redskins willingly changing their name without being forced to by the market are virtually nil.

[Badger]

Warriors would be pretty good actually. That was what the local high school on the Reservation where I initially grew up called their sports teams.

I didn't know you grew up on a rez. Are you part Native Am?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Warriors would be pretty good actually. That was what the local high school on the Reservation where I initially grew up called their sports teams.

I didn't know you grew up on a rez. Are you part Native Am?

No. My dad worked there as a teacher.

[Thomas D]

News breaking today from our friends at the trademark office.


http://news.yahoo.com/us-patent-office-finds-redskins-name-offensive-210214936--finance.html?.tsrc=o2de

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

This will be overturned like it was last time.  It also guarantees Snyder will never change it.

[DemPGH]

Regardless of whether they should or should not change it, yes, the decision should be overturned. It overreaches, and to me, there is too fine a line here. To me, the Cleveland Indians and their logo is worse, but I can't separate "Fighting Irish" and their logo, Yankees, WVU Mountaineers, and the Seminoles and their spear logo concept - as well as others - from this. I don't think the Patent Office took into consideration the NFL's argument (that it's not being used offensively), and I don't think the Patent Office should be arbitrarily making decisions like this.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Denying a trademark registration on the basis of it being "derogatory" seems like a potential infringement on freedom of speech.  At the very least, the onus on those seeking to have the registration cancelled needs to be to show that the harm caused by it goes beyond hurt feelings.

[Badger]

This will be overturned like it was last time.  It also guarantees Snyder will never change it.

I suspect you're right on the former point, George, but question the latter. Maybe, just maybe, this'll be the fig leaf needed for the team to just start moving to change the name "to avoid legal fees and uncertainty" or the like?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

This will be overturned like it was last time.  It also guarantees Snyder will never change it.

I suspect you're right on the former point, George, but question the latter. Maybe, just maybe, this'll be the fig leaf needed for the team to just start moving to change the name "to avoid legal fees and uncertainty" or the like?

Probably not. While the loss of registration will make going after those who infringe upon it more difficult as they'll only be subject to civil rather than criminal penalties, it can still be done.  Plus if they make certain that all of their licensed products also have the NFL logo on them somewhere, those criminal penalties would still apply to any otherwise indistinguishable knockoffs.

[Badger]

This will be overturned like it was last time.  It also guarantees Snyder will never change it.

I suspect you're right on the former point, George, but question the latter. Maybe, just maybe, this'll be the fig leaf needed for the team to just start moving to change the name "to avoid legal fees and uncertainty" or the like?

Probably not. While the loss of registration will make going after those who infringe upon it more difficult as they'll only be subject to civil rather than criminal penalties, it can still be done.  Plus if they make certain that all of their licensed products also have the NFL logo on them somewhere, those criminal penalties would still apply to any otherwise indistinguishable knockoffs.

But wouldn't any knockoff that simply avoids also using the NFL logo thus escape criminal prosecution (asks the prosecutor who can barely spell "patent law")?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

This will be overturned like it was last time.  It also guarantees Snyder will never change it.

I suspect you're right on the former point, George, but question the latter. Maybe, just maybe, this'll be the fig leaf needed for the team to just start moving to change the name "to avoid legal fees and uncertainty" or the like?

Probably not. While the loss of registration will make going after those who infringe upon it more difficult as they'll only be subject to civil rather than criminal penalties, it can still be done.  Plus if they make certain that all of their licensed products also have the NFL logo on them somewhere, those criminal penalties would still apply to any otherwise indistinguishable knockoffs.

But wouldn't any knockoff that simply avoids also using the NFL logo thus escape criminal prosecution (asks the prosecutor who can barely spell "patent law")?

Perhaps, but Badg, Snyder will spew his own money now on legal fees just to make a point, and I don't think he cares how much it costs to make his point.

[Badger]

This will be overturned like it was last time.  It also guarantees Snyder will never change it.

I suspect you're right on the former point, George, but question the latter. Maybe, just maybe, this'll be the fig leaf needed for the team to just start moving to change the name "to avoid legal fees and uncertainty" or the like?

Probably not. While the loss of registration will make going after those who infringe upon it more difficult as they'll only be subject to civil rather than criminal penalties, it can still be done.  Plus if they make certain that all of their licensed products also have the NFL logo on them somewhere, those criminal penalties would still apply to any otherwise indistinguishable knockoffs.

But wouldn't any knockoff that simply avoids also using the NFL logo thus escape criminal prosecution (asks the prosecutor who can barely spell "patent law")?

Perhaps, but Badg, Snyder will spew his own money now on legal fees just to make a point, and I don't think he cares how much it costs to make his point.

You know Snyder's MO better than I. If so, that's disappointing.

[traininthedistance]

Regardless of whether they should or should not change it, yes, the decision should be overturned. It overreaches, and to me, there is too fine a line here. To me, the Cleveland Indians and their logo is worse, but I can't separate "Fighting Irish" and their logo, Yankees, WVU Mountaineers, and the Seminoles and their spear logo concept - as well as others - from this. I don't think the Patent Office took into consideration the NFL's argument (that it's not being used offensively), and I don't think the Patent Office should be arbitrarily making decisions like this.

It continually surprises me how someone as smart as you really can't (or doesn't want to) see the MASSIVE difference in scale and offensiveness between "R**skins" and all those other examples.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

This will be overturned like it was last time.  It also guarantees Snyder will never change it.

I suspect you're right on the former point, George, but question the latter. Maybe, just maybe, this'll be the fig leaf needed for the team to just start moving to change the name "to avoid legal fees and uncertainty" or the like?

Probably not. While the loss of registration will make going after those who infringe upon it more difficult as they'll only be subject to civil rather than criminal penalties, it can still be done.  Plus if they make certain that all of their licensed products also have the NFL logo on them somewhere, those criminal penalties would still apply to any otherwise indistinguishable knockoffs.

But wouldn't any knockoff that simply avoids also using the NFL logo thus escape criminal prosecution (asks the prosecutor who can barely spell "patent law")?

Yes, tho they still would be subject to civil prosecution.

[afleitch]

To keep with this weeks theme, why not the Washington Foreskins?

[NHLiberal]

Could care less.

You could care less? So you care then?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

How long until the SJW's start demanding we change the capitals name since the name Washington is also offensive to minorities.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I certainly don't want to offend anyone, and I don't support bigotry against Native Americans or anyone else, but I see no need to change the name.  The Redskins are such an iconic team that changing the name now would be pointless.

Plus, the Cleveland Indians have a logo that's a thousand times more offensive than the Redskins'.  Instead of just depicting a Native American, it actually makes them look stupid.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

How long until the SJW's start demanding we change the capitals name since the name Washington is also offensive to minorities.

United Empire Loyalists are unfortunately neglected by SJWs.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

How long until the SJW's start demanding we change the capitals name since the name Washington is also offensive to minorities.

How so?

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

How long until the SJW's start demanding we change the capitals name since the name Washington is also offensive to minorities.

If anything it's the DC part that's offensive to minorities. Colombia. The capital is named after Christopher Columbus, a far more offensive name.

[King]

To keep with this weeks theme, why not the Washington Foreskins?

If there's anything WASPs hate more than Redskins...

[Sbane]

If Native Americans want the name changed, then why not change it? Why be a dick about it? Can someone here who doesn't support the name change explain why.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

To me, the Cleveland Indians and their logo is worse, but I can't separate "Fighting Irish" and their logo, Yankees, WVU Mountaineers, and the Seminoles and their spear logo concept - as well as others - from this.

I think you can, though, because "redskin" is an actual racist word.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

How long until the SJW's start demanding we change the capitals name since the name Washington is also offensive to minorities.

If anything it's the DC part that's offensive to minorities. Colombia. The capital is named after Christopher Columbus, a far more offensive name.

actually the name of Colombia's capital district is of Muisca derivation.