Redskins' Trademark Cancellation: An Expert's Perspective

In GW Today, Professor Roger Schechter explains the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's decision to cancel six trademarks held by the Washington Redskins, noting that the ruling is not final and would carry only minor practical consequences if upheld. According to Professor Schechter, the team can choose to appeal the decision in a federal court, which could take years. "The law moves at a geological pace," he says. "PR pressure is a different story, and could cause a name change before the case comes to a conclusion."