Link: "Redskins" name denied by U.S. Patent Office.

TommyMac · Jun 20, 2014

Displaced Bama Fan said:
So I guess the Chiefs, Braves, Indians and others better gear up....

How about "The Fighting Irish"?

92tide · Jun 20, 2014

TommyMac said:
How about "The Fighting Irish"?

to the extent that they can show that the term fighting irish is disparaging, they might have a case

bamachile · Jun 20, 2014

TommyMac said:
How about "The Fighting Irish"?

Somebody's got to prove there's another kind of Irishman before that can be called offensive.

92tide · Jun 20, 2014

bamachile said:
Somebody's got to prove there's another kind of Irishman before that be called offensive.

to be fair, some may be too drunk to fight

Tide1986 · Jun 20, 2014

92tide said:
to the extent that they can show that the term fighting irish is disparaging, they might have a case

How many offended Irishmen should it take?

92tide · Jun 20, 2014

Tide1986 said:
How many offended Irishmen should it take?

its not about a number offended. the law states

No trademark by which the goods of the applicant may be distinguished from the goods of others shall be refused registration on the principal register on account of its nature unless it—
(a) Consists of or comprises immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter; or matter which may disparage or falsely suggest a connection with persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute; or a geographical indication which, when used on or in connection with wines or spirits, identifies a place other than the origin of the goods and is first used on or in connection with wines or spirits by the applicant on or after one year after the date on which the WTO Agreement (as defined in section 3501 (9) of title 19) enters into force with respect to the United States.

there appears to be a quite thorough discussion of this in the uspto decision

Bodhisattva · Jun 20, 2014

TommyMac said:
How about "The Fighting Irish"?

And Ragin' Cajuns. If they'd calm down long enough they'd realize they are being disparaged.

Tidewater · Jun 20, 2014

TommyMac said:
How about "The Fighting Irish"?

I actually worked with a Captain from the Irish Defense Forces who was offended by the name "Notre Dame Fighting Irish." He thought it was a reference to the Irish Troubles of the 1910'-1920s or to the 1970s-1980s.
I told him it was harkening back to the time in the 19th century when Irish immigrants in the US had a tough time finding work and many resorted to bare-knuckle boxing to make a living, and the Irish developed a reputation of being tough because of that. Additionally, Irish laborers in America developed a rowdy reputation. In my neck of the woods, when they were building the Manassa's Gap Railroad in the 1850s, most of the laborers were Irish. The foremen would knock off work on Saturday afternoon, and then the Irish would get liquored up and start brawling. The county Sheriff used to spend every Saturday evening in the camps picking up the drunken brawlers and hold them in jail until the foremen would come and bail them out on Sunday afternoon. Anecdotal, but I would wager this behavior of Irish immigrants was not only found in Fauquier County, Virginia but was typical of Irish immigrant laborers generally at that time.
And, "The Notre Dame Drunken Brawlers" doesn't sound so picturesque as a school mascot and won't fit on the side of a football helmet.

Bodhisattva · Jun 20, 2014

I remember about 10 years ago the University of North Dakota had to give up their nickname, "Fighting Sioux." I can see how "Redskins" - if one didn't know the history of the word - could be viewed as disparaging. But, how can Sioux (or Irish or Cajuns or Highlanders or Texans) be disparaging?

Bodhisattva · Jun 20, 2014

BamainBoston said:
What's amazing is that based on this ruling, it seems that the reality of what the term means is irrelevant. It's all about what people think, no matter what the source of their feelings. It reminds me of various controversies about niggardly.

I remember that controversy involved some guy in the DC government. The guy lost his job because others were ignorant of the definition and got offended because of their own misinterpretation. One of the stupidest incidents ever in our PC society.

Tidewater · Jun 20, 2014

BamainBoston said:
What's amazing is that based on this ruling, it seems that the reality of what the term means is irrelevant. It's all about what people think, no matter what the source of their feelings. It reminds me of various controversies about niggardly.

If the misinformation or lack of understanding of "a composite," even a minority composite is the measuring stick for offense, then there will be no end of the mischief that can be done.
This way of thinking is an enormous step back from the liberal, enlightened views that heretofore separates the west from the barbaric peoples of the rest of the world.
If you don't like what I am saying, argue against me. We can "tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it." Alternatively, avert your eyes or ears. To argue, however, in effect, "I am deliberately mis-stating what you are saying, and I am deeply offended by my misunderstanding of what you are saying and I am going to enlist the police power of the state to stop you from saying the evil meanings I wrongly assign to your speech," is a bottomless pit.

GrayTide · Jun 20, 2014

Tidewater said:
If the misinformation or lack of understanding of "a composite," even a minority composite is the measuring stick for offense, then there will be no end of the mischief that can be done.
This way of thinking is an enormous step back from the liberal, enlightened views that heretofore separates the west from the barbaric peoples of the rest of the world.
If you don't like what I am saying, argue against me. We can "tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it." Alternatively, avert your eyes or ears. To argue, however, in effect, "I am deliberately mis-stating what you are saying, and I am deeply offended by my misunderstanding of what you are saying and I am going to enlist the police power of the state to stop you from saying the evil meanings I wrongly assign to your speech," is a bottomless pit.

I'm not sure I understand anything you said, but I like it.

IGetBuckets · Jun 20, 2014

TommyMac said:
How about "The Fighting Irish"?

As Northern Catholics, ND and the "Fighting Irish" are safe for now

IGetBuckets · Jun 20, 2014

Tidewater said:
If the misinformation or lack of understanding of "a composite," even a minority composite is the measuring stick for offense, then there will be no end of the mischief that can be done.
This way of thinking is an enormous step back from the liberal, enlightened views that heretofore separates the west from the barbaric peoples of the rest of the world.
If you don't like what I am saying, argue against me. We can "tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it." Alternatively, avert your eyes or ears. To argue, however, in effect, "I am deliberately mis-stating what you are saying, and I am deeply offended by my misunderstanding of what you are saying and I am going to enlist the police power of the state to stop you from saying the evil meanings I wrongly assign to your speech," is a bottomless pit.

RammerJammer15 · Jun 20, 2014

Well maybe if they named it after an actual TRIBE, there wouldn't be a problem. I personally would have no problem with Washington Warriors or Braves.

Bama Reb · Jun 20, 2014

92tide said:
to be fair, some may be too drunk to fight

The ones I know usually are.

Tidewater · Jun 20, 2014

GrayTide said:
I'm not sure I understand anything you said, but I like it.

Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish...

Al A Bama · Jun 20, 2014

IGetBuckets said:
As Northern Catholics, ND and the "Fighting Irish" are safe for now

I'm part Irish and I've always been offended by the "Fighting Irish". I honestly think it started when Paul Hornung won the Heisman T.! So that's 50+ years that I've been offended.

Al A Bama · Jun 20, 2014

RammerJammer15 said:
Well maybe if they named it after an actually TRIBE, there wouldn't be a problem. I personally would have no problem with Washington Warriors or Braves.

This could be the answer for the Redskins' owner. Make a financial agreement with a specific tribe and keep the same logo. What tribe did the Anglos run out of the Washington area. That tribe could build a Casino adjacent to the Redskins stadium if there is any room.

Tide1986 · Dec 19, 2014

On a related note:

http://time.com/3641087/fcc-redskins-radio-station-obscene/

The Federal Communications Commission denied a Washington area law professor’s petition to strip a radio station of its license because of repeated use of the word “redskins” when talking about the football team.

The FCC said the word isn’t obscene, citing a Supreme Court ruling defining obscene material as something sexual in nature. Banzhaf’s petition was one of several to be considered by the FCC.

Link: "Redskins" name denied by U.S. Patent Office.

Hall of Fame

TideFans Legend

Hall of Fame

TideFans Legend

Suspended

TideFans Legend

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Suspended

Suspended

All-American

Suspended

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Suspended

TideFans.shop - NEW Stuff!