Friday, an appellate court put new life into the legal challenge to the trademark of the Washington professional football team. According to The Washington Post:
The appellate ruling hinged on the question of whether the Native Americans waited too long to file their challenge. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled in October 2003 that the seven plaintiffs had no standing to complain because they did not formally object until 25 years had elapsed since the date of the first trademark.
But the appellate judges found that one plaintiff still could have standing because he was only 1 year old in 1967. They sent the case back to Kollar-Kotelly for review.
NewMexiKen has long thought the Washington football franchise was insensitive about this; even more I think they are being financially short-sighted. If they change their name, alas every item of merchandise with the current logo will sell in an instant to collectors. Then, all the fans will rush to get current with the new name and the new merchandise will have a boom.
Do the right thing and make a fortune. This is a no-brainer. But then the owner of the team is a no-brainer in many ways, too.