The Washington Redskins, the Cleveland Indians, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Kansas City Chiefs play different sports in different cities, but collectively, they share many things. Each team is beloved in their respective city by fans, young and old. Each team has a rich history and tradition. And each team is the proud owner of a trademark that could be construed as disparaging toward Native Americans, playing on stereotypical notions or imagery to sell merchandise to the public at large. A lot has been said and written lately about the Redskins nickname, in particular. Everyone seems to have an opinion about it. President Barack Obama has even weighed in on the subject, recently saying that he believes that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder should “think about changing” the team’s nickname. However, appeals to Snyder’s heartstrings seems to have fallen on deaf ears; he’s defiantly stated that he will “never” change the name of his beloved team. He may not have to — the courts may do it for him. A new appeal to the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (TTAB) by six young Native American plaintiffs may finally spell the end of the Redskins mark, once and for all. More on this in a second. First, a little history.
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