Supreme Court asked to hear Washington Redskins trademark case
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The Washington Redskins have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up its case over the controversial Redskins trademark, that some find disparaging to Native Americans,CBS affiliate WTVR in Richmond reported.
The case is currently set to go before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia.
In June of 2014, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled the Redskins name was offensive to Native Americans, and the team could not trademark its name. The Redskins kept their trademark during the appeals process.
However, in December 2015, the federal appeals court ruled the government was wrong to reject trademarks of names that are deemed offensive, WTVR reported. That ruling didn't directly involve the Redskins, but instead an Asian American rock band called "The Slants."
The ruling said the band had the right to trademark protections even if some people were offended by the name of the band. According to court documents, the Redskins are asking the case to be heard alongside the existing case for "The Slants" because of the similarity.
The band's recent success in court is likely why the Redskins want their trademark case heard at the same time, CBSSports.com reported.
WTVR reports that the team would like the court to hear the case before the appellate court makes their decision.