A federal judge upheld a decision by the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s appeal board to cancel six trademarks held by the Washington Redskins, another victory for Native American groups that have been urging the team for decades to scrap its name.
The ruling was also a blow to the team, which has vociferously claimed that its name is not racist as some Native American groups contend. It is also another headache for N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell, who grew up rooting for the team and has stood by owner Dan Snyder’s decision to resist calls to change the name and logo.