Washington Redstorms

[Washington Redstorms]

Since the Redskin name will be ending next season via Native Americans, what do you think about the new name?

Washington Redstorms!!

[Champsturf]

Since the Redskin name will be ending next season via Native Americans, what do you think about the new name?

Washington Redstorms!!

[ChocolateMilk]

They're changing their names?? Do you have a link or anything? I heard it was being brought back up but it's the same case from the early 90s.

[Deadskins]

The name's not going anywhere.

[djlash]

Washington Foreskins.

[Cappster]

Since the Redskin name will be ending next season via Native Americans, what do you think about the new name?

Washington Redstorms!!

Nice first post troll.

[KazooSkinsFan]

Since the Redskin name will be ending next season via Native Americans, what do you think about the new name?

Washington Redstorms!!

Creative, not. You took this from Saint Johns.

BTW, the Supreme Court hasn't even agreed to hear the case.

[frankcal20]

I thought that our major defense was that we have backing of several major tribes that our team name is in fact a tribute to Native American's. But I wouldn't be surprised for us to see the name change and some kind of ruling banning all fan's from wearing team gear showing the name Redskins.

My personal feeling is that this is a tribute to Native Americans nothing derogatory. But I am not Native American so what do I know. But I know that I personally do not have any ill feelings toward Native Americans.

[Irn-Bru]

My personal feeling is that this is a tribute to Native Americans nothing derogatory. But I am not Native American so what do I know. But I know that I personally do not have any ill feelings toward Native Americans.

Even if you did, there wouldn't be anything illegal about that. A little something called free speech, such as it is in this country.

[Deadskins]

I wouldn't be surprised for us to see ... some kind of ruling banning all fan's from wearing team gear showing the name Redskins.

I don't think the 1st amendment has been repealed quite yet.

[Bob 0119]

Maybe we can keep the same logo and call it the Washington I-don't-have anything-better-to-do-with-my-time-than-try-and-extort-money-from-rich-corperations-by-suing-them-for-slander-when-no-offense-was-ever-intended's

But it seems a little lengthy.

[Deadskins]

Maybe we can keep the same logo and call it the Washington I-don't-have anything-better-to-do-with-my-time-than-try-and-extort-money-from-rich-corperations-by-suing-them-for-slander-when-no-offense-was-ever-intended's

But it seems a little lengthy.

You'd have trouble fitting that in the endzone.

[DEHog]

Maybe we can keep the same logo and call it the Washington I-don't-have anything-better-to-do-with-my-time-than-try-and-extort-money-from-rich-corperations-by-suing-them-for-slander-when-no-offense-was-ever-intended's

But it seems a little lengthy.

You'd have trouble fitting that in the endzone.

And it'd be hard adding that to our fight song...
Hail to the -don't-have anything-better-to-do-with-my-time-than-try-and-extort-money-from-rich-corperations-by-suing-them-for-slander-when-no-offense-was-ever-intended's

[tribeofjudah]

Since the Redskin name will be ending next season via Native Americans, what do you think about the new name?

Washington Redstorms!!

Washington RedZones blunderheads.....

[ArlingtonSkinsFan]

Wouldn't we just call them the Hogs? That's already a pseudo team name. Washington Hogs

[Redskin in Canada]

Since the Redskin name will be ending next season via Native Americans, what do you think about the new name?

Washington Redstorms!!

I like better:

The Wetstorms.

That is how I called my son when he was born and I had to change the diaper.

[Deadskins]

I like the idea of keeping the name, and putting a redskin potato on the helmet.

[riggofan]

I think they're trying to get the Supreme Court to hear that case now, right?

I wouldn't worry too much about needing to change the name though. Whether a few people are offended by the name or not, we do have freedom of speech in this country.

I wouldn't mind seeing the skins get rid of the indian on their helmet and go back to the spear again though!

[VetSkinsFan]

I think they're trying to get the Supreme Court to hear that case now, right?

I wouldn't worry too much about needing to change the name though. Whether a few people are offended by the name or not, we do have freedom of speech in this country.

I wouldn't mind seeing the skins get rid of the indian on their helmet and go back to the spear again though!

They've been trying to get hte Supreme Court to hear it for decades.

[SnyderSucks]

I thought that our major defense was that we have backing of several major tribes that our team name is in fact a tribute to Native American's. But I wouldn't be surprised for us to see the name change and some kind of ruling banning all fan's from wearing team gear showing the name Redskins.

The only defense in the current case is essentially the statute of limitations. The lower courts have issued conflicting rulings about whether the plaintiffs waited too long. Even if the Supreme Court rules that the statute of limitations had expired for the current plaintiffs, they can get someone younger to file the same case and likely win. The statute of limitations does not start until the person who eventually files the case turns 18.

If the team loses the case, there is no ban on the name or anything like that. They could continue using the name forever, if they wanted to do so. They would lose their copyright on the name, meaning that anyone could use the name and logo without paying the team. So, they would change the name in order to keep a copyright.

[Bob 0119]

I thought that our major defense was that we have backing of several major tribes that our team name is in fact a tribute to Native American's. But I wouldn't be surprised for us to see the name change and some kind of ruling banning all fan's from wearing team gear showing the name Redskins.

The only defense in the current case is essentially the statute of limitations. The lower courts have issued conflicting rulings about whether the plaintiffs waited too long. Even if the Supreme Court rules that the statute of limitations had expired for the current plaintiffs, they can get someone younger to file the same case and likely win. The statute of limitations does not start until the person who eventually files the case turns 18.

If the team loses the case, there is no ban on the name or anything like that. They could continue using the name forever, if they wanted to do so. They would lose their copyright on the name, meaning that anyone could use the name and logo without paying the team. So, they would change the name in order to keep a copyright.

But aren't the Redskins one of the few teams that have a copyright on their name and logo. I think the rest are owned by the league.

[KazooSkinsFan]

I thought that our major defense was that we have backing of several major tribes that our team name is in fact a tribute to Native American's. But I wouldn't be surprised for us to see the name change and some kind of ruling banning all fan's from wearing team gear showing the name Redskins.

My personal feeling is that this is a tribute to Native Americans nothing derogatory. But I am not Native American so what do I know. But I know that I personally do not have any ill feelings toward Native Americans.

The argument is that derogatory names cannot be copyrighted. The Skins would not technically be forced to change their name, but in practicality they would because anyone could copy their logo, gear, etc and sell it with no royalty. Which is why the whole argument is stupid, it's not meant as a derogatory name.

[SnyderSucks]

I thought that our major defense was that we have backing of several major tribes that our team name is in fact a tribute to Native American's. But I wouldn't be surprised for us to see the name change and some kind of ruling banning all fan's from wearing team gear showing the name Redskins.

The only defense in the current case is essentially the statute of limitations. The lower courts have issued conflicting rulings about whether the plaintiffs waited too long. Even if the Supreme Court rules that the statute of limitations had expired for the current plaintiffs, they can get someone younger to file the same case and likely win. The statute of limitations does not start until the person who eventually files the case turns 18.

If the team loses the case, there is no ban on the name or anything like that. They could continue using the name forever, if they wanted to do so. They would lose their copyright on the name, meaning that anyone could use the name and logo without paying the team. So, they would change the name in order to keep a copyright.

But aren't the Redskins one of the few teams that have a copyright on their name and logo. I think the rest are owned by the league.

I don't know about who owns all the copyrights. If the case is won by the plaintiffs, no one could own the copyright.

[PulpExposure]

I thought that our major defense was that we have backing of several major tribes that our team name is in fact a tribute to Native American's. But I wouldn't be surprised for us to see the name change and some kind of ruling banning all fan's from wearing team gear showing the name Redskins.

The only defense in the current case is essentially the statute of limitations. The lower courts have issued conflicting rulings about whether the plaintiffs waited too long. Even if the Supreme Court rules that the statute of limitations had expired for the current plaintiffs, they can get someone younger to file the same case and likely win. The statute of limitations does not start until the person who eventually files the case turns 18.

If the team loses the case, there is no ban on the name or anything like that. They could continue using the name forever, if they wanted to do so. They would lose their copyright on the name, meaning that anyone could use the name and logo without paying the team. So, they would change the name in order to keep a copyright.

First of all, it's a trademark case, not a copyright case.

Second, the laches affirmative defense is only the current issue brought up before the Supreme Court. However, it's not the only defense in this case. Volokh's take on the May victory.

Laches Proves To Be the Most Valuable Player: In Pro Football Inc. v. Harjo, several American Indians were challenging the validity of the Washington Redskins trademark on the ground that it was "disparaging," which trademarks aren't allowed to be. (The federal trademark statute provides that, among other things, marks generally aren't allowed when, among other things, they "[c]onsist[] of or comprise[] 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.") If the plaintiffs had won, that wouldn't have legally barred the trademark owners from using the mark; but it would have stripped the owners of some of the legal rights they'd have to police the mark against infringers, and thus would have given the owners some incentive to switch to a fully legally protected mark.

The trouble is that the challengers apparently waited for a long time in bringing the lawsuit, which triggers "laches, an equitable defense that applies where there is “(1) lack of diligence by the party against whom the defense is asserted, and (2) prejudice to the party asserting the defense.”" The district court held in Pro-Football's favor, and the D.C. Circuit just affirmed.

Other American Indians who just turned 18 could still bring the same substantive claim, since they would not have exhibited any "lack of diligence." Still, this is a pretty big victory for Pro Football. Even if it has only delayed the possible cancellation of the mark -- not at all clear, since they might eventually win on the merits -- it has gotten many extra years during which to exploit it (and I take it that the league's judgment in defending this lawsuit has been that the Redskins mark is much more valuable, at least right now, than any replacement mark would be).

[Jake]

The only place dealing with a Red Storm right now is Australia, not Washington.