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Tag Archives: Native Americans

Retiring the Fighting Sioux Nickname and Imagery

Posted in Branding, Goodwill, Law Suits, Marketing, SoapBox, Trademarks

Last week, the North Dakota Supreme Court issued an opinion in a suit relating to the University of North Dakota’s use of the name FIGHTING SIOUX and related imagery.  This opinion was the latest installment in a long-running matter, the history of which I will not get into in detail–the opinion recites most of the relevant facts. … Continue Reading

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Redskins Trademark Case

Posted in Advertising, Branding, Trademarks, TTAB

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the requested appeal of Harjo v. Pro-Football, Inc., the nearly two-decade old trademark case seeking cancellation of the U.S. Trademark Registrations owned by the NFL franchise in the Nation’s Capitol. In doing so, the highest Court in the land, has permitted the laches ruling to stand. Basically, permitting dismissal of the action given a… Continue Reading

Supreme Court Asked to Review Washington Redskins Trademark Case

Posted in Advertising, Branding, First Amendment, Law Suits, Marketing, Trademarks, TTAB

Back in May, I wrote a piece entitled "Re-Branding Madness in Washington" Overlooks Obvious: The Washington Redskins," discussing the trademark cancellation action that I filed on behalf of seven prominent Native American leaders back in September 1992 (Harjo et al v. Pro-Football, Inc.), and calling for the football team to "hire a branding guru to engage… Continue Reading

“Chief Wahoo” Re-Branding Underway? A Painful Lesson on Saving Face

Posted in Advertising, Branding, First Amendment, Marketing, Trademarks

     A picture can say a thousand words; so does a face. The same is probably true of non-verbal logos, including the several federally-registered "Chief Wahoo" logos, shown above (all apparently still in use by the "Cleveland Indians" professional baseball team, according to their latest trademark filings). So, what do they say to you? My take? I can… Continue Reading

“Re-Branding Madness in Washington” Overlooks Obvious: The Washington Redskins

Posted in Branding, First Amendment, Law Suits, Marketing, Trademarks

Re-branding occurs all the time. Re-branding occurs in business. Remember when Bell Atlantic became Verizon? Andersen Consulting became Accenture? How about when Philip Morris became Altria?   Re-branding occurs in politics too. Just days ago, Judson Berger discussed a kind of "re-branding madness" consuming Washington, D.C. right now: "Terrorist attack is out. — ‘man caused disaster’ is in." Our friends at Catchword Branding had… Continue Reading