Although the case of an Asian American rock band called The Slants doesn’t have anything directly to do with the Washington Redskins, a ruling in the group’s favor might help out the NFL team’s fight to keep the trademarks of its name.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington ruled Tuesday that the government could not stop The Slants from registering a trademark for its name just because it might offend some, reports The New York Times. The court cited the First Amendment.
“It is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment that the government may not penalize private speech merely because it disapproves of the message it conveys,” judge Kimberly A. Moore wrote.
The ruling overturned a previous ruling that backed the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s decision to reject the band.
The ruling could help the Redskins, who had their trademarks revoked by the Patent Office in June 2014 because the name is “disparaging to Native Americans.” However, owner Daniel Snyder has refused to change the name and has insisted that it is not offensive. Still, President Barack Obama and many senators have urged him to change the name of the team based near the nation’s capital.
Of course, the redskins appeared the June 2014 decision and have the NFL’s support. According to CNN, the league even filed a statement to support the Slants.
"This freewheeling ability to deprive trademark owners of significant benefits because of what they say through their marks strikes at the very heart of the First Amendment values this country holds dear," the NFL said.
The Redskins’ appeal will be heard in 2016.
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