For those of you waiting for a decision in the Redskins trademark case, you’ll need to wait somewhat longer. Last month, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decided to stay the team’s case pending the United States Supreme Court’s (“SCOTUS”) resolution of a matter brought by an Asian rock band.
In that matter, the band is challenging the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (“PTO”) refusal to trademark its name, “The Slants.” The PTO declined to do so because it found the name disparaging under the Lanham Act, which is the federal law governing trademarks. In the Redskins case, the PTO cancelled trademarks that it previously issued to the team on the very same grounds.