WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Patent Office ruled Wednesday that the Washington Redskins nickname is "disparaging of Native Americans" and that the team's federal trademarks for the name must be canceled. The 2-1 ruling comes after a campaign to change the name gained momentum over the past year. The team doesn't immediately lose trademark protection and is allowed to retain it during an appeal, which is likely.
The case involves six registered trademarks that involve the use of the word Redskins, but it does not apply to the team's logo.
Apparently there has been a similar ruling that was overturned on a technicality.
