No Joke: The Washington NFL Team Is Suing Five Native Americans

[KamaAina]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/native-americans-washington-redskins-lawsuit

Five Native Americans are asking a Virginia judge to dismiss a lawsuit the Washington (NFL team) filed after the group successfully challenged the team's name, arguing it is offensive....

The five won a victory earlier this year when a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office board ruled that six trademark registrations on the team's name should be canceled because they were "disparaging to Native Americans" when registered. The board acted after the group of Native Americans petitioned it to cancel the trademark registrations.

After the board's action, the team in August sued the five Native Americans, asking a federal court to stop the cancellation from happening.

The team, which has used (a racial slur) as part of its name since 1933, says in court papers that the patent office board was wrong and that its trademarks are proper because the term was not offensive when the trademarks were registered. The team says canceling the trademarks, which were registered between 1967 and 1990, would violate the Constitution.

[hlthe2b]

1. This is not going to end well for the team, the owners--nor probably their fans

Nor should it. Determined idiots, truly.

[rurallib]

3. determined idiots sounds like it could be their next nickname

[randys1]

2. Coworker came today dressed as Squaw, makes me furious but I dont dare say a word

yes, the word Squaw is a horrible word, I use it ONLY to describe how ugly this person is

[Oktober]

4. Legally, it's a sound argument...

[KamaAina]

5. What about this part?

its trademarks are proper because the term was not offensive when the trademarks were registered.

Complete FAIL.

[etherealtruth]

7. I don't know if they are standing on solid legal ground or not

My question .... why the eff would anyone want to pursue this?

[dilby]

6. Anyone see the South Park Episode about this? n/t