Redskins lose trademarks

[masterfins]

Please help me understand how the term "indians" is now offensive?

Perhaps the NY Islanders should be forced to change their name because it is offensive to people who live on islands.

I don't think its the term Indians, its more so the Chief Wahoo Mascot, which is said to symbolize a crazy drunk Indian.  The Cleveland Indians removed the mascot from their hats a couple years ago, and downplay the Chief Wahoo logo, although it is still around.

[Spider-Dan]

"Indians" are a race, not a profession.
Chiefs and Braves are jobs/roles, the same as Kings or Cavaliers.
Black Hawk was a specific person.
Seminoles have the explicit approval (and participation) of the Seminole tribe.

You could argue that Indians is no different than Vikings, Celtics, or Fighting Irish, and you'd have a point.  Chief Wahoo will definitely have to go, though.

[Dave Gray]

You could argue that Indians is no different than Vikings, Celtics, or Fighting Irish, and you'd have a point.  Chief Wahoo will definitely have to go, though.

I don't think it's that it's Indians.  It's that they're not supposed to be called Indians.  That's a term of ignorance....and one that I use, even, but I get it.  If they were called the Native Americans or the Cherokees or something, it would be fine.  There are ways to honor and there are ways to mock.  The Indians mascot is a caricature of Native Americans, whereas I don't feel the same way about the Blackhawks mascot.

That's just me.  I don't have a problem with any of this, but I don't think they're the same.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Update if for no other reason than reading the brief is fucking hilarious. 

http://deadspin.com/the-skins-latest-court-filing-is-comically-vulgar-1740262036

[mecadonzilla]

It's a hilarious comments section. I now want to see the Washington Klitoris take the field and get licked by the competition.

[Sunstroke]

I laughed my large ass off while reading that, both article and comments. Great stuff!!

[masterfins]

Simply Brilliant.  As a Public Service Announcement, for those of you with dogs, please keep an eye on your Edible Crotchless Gummy Panties mentioned in the brief; as I saw on the news yesterday that gummy bears can contain an artificial sweetener that is 100 times more toxic to dogs than chocolate is.

[fyo]

Edible Crotchless Gummy Panties

That sounds... sticky.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O9r33bjzAM

[fyo]

Considered creating a new thread, but decided not to.

Snyder caught a major break with a ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit sitting en banc, who have struck down the entire section of law that prevents trademarks on offensive / disparaging speech.

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals where the Redskins case is being heard isn't bound by this ruling and there's always the Supreme Court.

http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2015/12/federal-circuit-judges-say-rule-against-disparaging-trademarks-is-unconstitutional/