What's In a Name? US Patent & Trademark Office Have Ideas....

The Washington Redskins, under Daniel Snyder's leadership, might have to go into their prevent defense yet again. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) just determined that the "Redskins" name is "disparaging to Native Americans" and, accordingly, cancelled the team's trademark.

The USPTO ruling reads, in part:

"Petitioners have found a preponderance of evidence that a substantial amount of Native Americans found the term Redskins to be disparaging when used in connection with professional football.....While this may reveal differing opinions with the community, it does not negate the opinions of those who find it disparaging."

You can read the entire USPTO's ruling here.

Once again, our own Michael McCann has written an insightful piece on today's topic for Sports Illustrated | SI.com article entitled "Understanding the Cancellation of the Redskins' Federal Trademark" which you should definitely read here.