Redskins Trademarks Canceled by U.S. Patent Office

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the U.S. Patent Office has canceled six federal trademark registrations owned by the Washington Redskins in a 2-1 vote in which the Board ruled that the term "Redskins" is disparaging to American Indians. The TTAB stated that the ruling was made after it found that by a preponderance of evidence petitioners had proved the term was disparaging to Native Americans at the respective times the marks were registered. Pressure mounted against the Washington team following a comment to USA Today by team owner Daniel Snyder that he would "never" change his team's name, even if the team were to lose its federal trademark protection.

The team's attorneys have stated they are confident they will be able to have the TTAB's ruling overturned on appeal, which is precisely what happened on appeal in an earlier iteration of the case.
While the Redskins maintain their federal trademark rights pending appeal, losing those rights could potentially allow others to profit using the team's name and logos for their own benefit with little to no consequence.