Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Patent Office Cancels 'Disparaging' Redskins Trademark Registration (Is Chicago Playing the Indian Race Card? YES!)



Patent Office Cancels 'Disparaging' Redskins Trademark Registration
by Breitbart Sports 18 Jun 2014, 7:50 AM PDT
In a landmark ruling on Wednesday, the United States Patent Office canceled six Washington Redskins trademarks because it determined that "Redskin" is "disparaging" to Native Americans.

As USA Today noted before the ruling, the Redskins would still be allowed to use the mark "even if it loses on appeal." But since "federally registered trademarks keep others from selling items with the team's logos," the effect of the ruling "would be large" and dent the team's profits even if the Redskins "try to keep unauthorized merchandisers from using the marks through common law and state statues."

As the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board emphasized in the 2-1 ruling, federal law "prohibits registration of marks that may disparage persons or bring them into contempt or disrepute." The Board said it found the evidence "overwhelmingly supports a determination that" the team's name is "disparaging." 

Administrative Trademark Judge Karen Kuhlke noted in the opinion that the respondent introduced "evidence that some in the Native American community do not find the term 'Redskin' disparaging when it is used in connection with professional football," but she said it ultimately "does not negate the opinions of those who find it disparaging."

"The ultimate decision is based on whether the evidence shows that a substantial composite of the Native American population found the term 'Redskins' to be disparaging when the respective registrations issued," she wrote. "Therefore, once a substantial composite has been found, the mere existence of differing opinions cannot change the conclusion."

Kuhlke said the Judges concluded that, "based on the evidence properly before us, that these registrations must be cancelled because they were disparaging to Native Americans at the respective times they were registered, in violation of Section 2(a) of the Trademark Act of 1946, 15 U.S.C. § 1052(a)."

Kuhkle also noted that the "decision concerns only the statutory right to registration" and the Board lacks the "statutory authority to issue rulings concerning the right to use trademarks."

Five Native American plaintiffs testified that "Redskin" was disparaging, with one plaintiff equating it to the "N-word."

“This victory was a long time coming and reflects the hard work of many attorneys at our firm,” lead attorney Jesse Witten said in a statement.

In May, 50 U.S. Senators signed a letter urging the NFL to force the team to change its name. And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said the name could be changed within the next three years. Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed to "NEVER" change the team's name and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, after first saying that the NFL had to listen if even one person were offended, has repeatedly supported the team's name since.

The Redskins have cited a Public Policy Polling poll that found "90 percent of Republicans, 59 percent of Democrats, and 65% of independents" believe the team should not change their name in defense of the team's name. That poll also found that 18% feel the team should change their name.

“This poll, along with the poll taken among Native Americans by the Annenberg Institute, demonstrates continued, widespread and deep opposition to the Redskins changing our name,” the Redskins said in a statement in January. ”The results of this poll are solidly in line with the message we have heard from fans and Native Americans for months – our name represents a tradition, passion and heritage that honors Native Americans.  We respect the point of view of the small number of people who seek a name change, but it is important to recognize very few people agree with the case they are making.”

Native Americans
Bureau of Indian Affairs is a bureau for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Note: National Indian Gaming Commission is a commission for the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Sally Jewell is the secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the chair for the National Park Foundation.
Bryan Traubert is a director at the National Park Foundation, and married to Penny S. Pritzker.
Penny S. Pritzker is married to Bryan Traubert, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Barack Obama administration, was the national finance chair, fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a fundraiser, national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, the host for the Barack Obama fund-raising dinner, 7/2/2008, and Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach for the children's team.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach to children's team was Penny S. Pritzker, was the men's basketball team assistant coach at Northwestern University, and his sister is Michelle Obama.
Christine E. Brennen is a trustee at Northwestern University, and a sports columnist for USA Today.
Mark A. Angelson is a trustee at Northwestern University, and a was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.
Michelle Obama is Craig M. Robinson’s sister, and was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.
Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.
Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Commercial Club of Chicago, Members Directory A-Z (Past Research)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Thomas A. Cole is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a trustee at the University of Chicago.
University of Chicago Booth School of Business is a graduate school at the University of Chicago.
John P. Amboian is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Norman R. Bobins is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
John P. Calamos Sr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Dennis H. Chookaszian is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
James R. Donnelley is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
James J. Drury III is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
John A. Edwardson is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Lawrence I. Field is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
David W. Fox is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Cheryl A. Francis is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
John P. Gould is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Dennis J. Keller is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
William T. Lynch Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Joseph D. Mansueto is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Robert C. McCormack is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Paul E. Purcell is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Fred G. Steingraber is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
David J. Vitale is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Clifford S. Asness is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a director at the International Rescue Committee, was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, and a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee, and the Robin Hood Foundation.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Robert S. Hamada is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a director at the National Bureau of Economic Research (think tank), and was the dean emeritus for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
John P. Gould is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a director at the National Bureau of Economic Research (think tank), a professor at the University of Chicago, and a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Robert Rothman is a council member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and part-owner for the Washington Redskins.

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