Posted on 06/24/2019 3:43:05 PM PDT by SMGFan
A Supreme Court decision this morning will serve as a victory for the Washington Redskins’ ongoing efforts to protect their team name.
The Court ruled that the federal government may not prohibit trademarks on “immoral” or “scandalous” materials, in a case brought by a clothing line known as FUCT. Although the Redskins were not a party to the case, it represents a victory for the team because opponents of the team name have argued that they should lose their trademark protection under the “immoral or scandalous” laws that have now been ruled unconstitutional.
This is the second recent case in which the Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment defends the free speech of companies that have offensive trademarks.
Losing trademark protection wouldn’t have forced the team to change its name, but it would have potentially cost the team money in merchandise sales, which might have been a first step toward Dan Snyder changing his stated determination “never” to change the name. Now Snyder doesn’t have to worry about that.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The justices struggled with what line to draw on which words they would find to be the most vulgar and profane. That's why, in part, Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Sonia Sotomayor penned opinions that partially agreed and partially dissented.
The court, like others, struggled with how to deal with the word — in particular, its pronunciation. Here’s how Justice Elena Kagan described it in her majority opinion: The clothing brand “is pronounced as four letters, one after the other: F-U-C-T. ... But you might read it differently and, if so, you would hardly be alone.”
A clothing line named FUCT? How vulgar and adolescent. Another example of moral decay.
Just think of all the high school and colleges who had their mascots changed to be politically correct. Some would welcome the change back, including the ND Sioux.
Glad to see the benefit here to the Redskins.
Not exactly a big fan of firms that choose the most outrageous names for their brands knowing kids will likely be their major clientele.
That may not be the case here, but that would be my first thought.
This is a bad decision. We all know liberal’s favorite words have four letters, their top fave beginning with “F”. It’s going to be everywhere, in everybody’s face, all the time with frothing leftists daring anyone to “violate their right” given to them by black robed tyrants. Say goodbye to anthing remotely resembling public decency or morality. If we cannot disallow indecency we have no society.
Appoint Dan Snyder as the Chief of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
As a reminder, back when the Redskins name was a big topic of conversation, Michael Medved said there was “zero chance” the team would be using that name in five years. I’ve lost the note where I recorded the exact date he said that, but I’m pretty sure his deadline was this fall. That was one of the things that urned me off his show. Always willing to concede, always ready to fold. I think that the fact that Trump is a brawler is part of what Medved hates about him.
First victory since Joe Gibbs left.
another smackdown of obama- good to see..
THe lets “Da Slants” off the hook too. NOt that I am a fan of their “cough” music.
Florida State University Seminoles did not change their name. I believe most of enrolled members of the Seminole tribe support the use of Seminoles by FSU. Also, the Seminole tribe was one American Indian tribe not defeated by the US Army in the 1800’s
Yeah, and the N word might even end up in some ‘music’.
Fwiw, many of us DALLAS fans routinely refer to the DC NFL team as the “DEADSKINS”, which even pleases us Amer-Indians.
Btw, MOST A-I people do NOT dislike team names that are like SIOUX, APACHES, SEMINOLES, WARRIORS, TRIBE, etc., though virtually ALL A-Is intensely dislike the nickname of the DC NFL team, inasmuch as that is & always has been a RACIAL SLUR used against A-Is.
Note: A college team in CA is called, THE FIGHTING ALVACADOS, which I find amusing.
Yours, TMN78247.
“Not exactly a big fan of firms that choose the most outrageous names for their brands knowing kids will likely be their major clientele.”
In the sixties an advertising firm suggested that Panasonic use “From Those Wonderful Folks Who Brought You Pearl Harbor” as a sales slogan. The idea was that the youth market would think it was funny and adults would despise it making it even more appealing to kids.
FUCT at birth?
though virtually ALL A-Is intensely dislike the nickname of the DC NFL team, inasmuch as that is & always has been a RACIAL SLUR used against A-Is.
——-
So, it was only relatively briefly used as a racial slur against A-Is. For most of its history, especially before co-opted as a slur, it was nearly exclusively a self-description, and one of pride.
Historically, it is a regionally used term which A-Is of the Southeast called themselves culturally, from when they came in contact with the white Europeans. When used by the U.S. government, it was a prominent act of sucking-up and overt respect commonly used while negotiating.
The breadth of the opposition to the term is often asserted, but actual documentation, such as it is, indicates the contrary position. Last fall I sat with a group of TRIBAL ELDERS mostly wearing Redskins jackets ( despite each of those primarily being fans of other teams). They are quite proud of their heritage that the term describes - which is cultural.
That said, calling an A-I from a different A-I cultural region by the term is reasonably viewed by many calling a Hmong “Chinese”.
Perhaps you’re right & that there are a FEW A-Is who are NOT offended by the term, as I can think of a FEW Black folks who claim to NOT be offended by “the N-word”.
At least everywhere I’ve been (from Canada to Brownsville & from LA to RI) that word is preceded by SHIFTLESS, DRUNKEN, STUPID, DIRTY, IGNORANT, etc. but NEVER by words like BRAVE, TALENTED, SMART, CULTURED, ARTISTIC, etc.
It’s also TRUE that all of the over 300 recognized tribes have asked politely to change the nickname of the DC team but weren’t even politely listened to.
(At least one of the team owners, when I was stationed
at Ft. Meade, MD was honest enough to admit the TRUTH. - His comment which was published in THE BALTIMORE SUN was, “Who gives a damn what a few stupid Indians like or don’t like.” & “Changing the name would cost me too much money.”)
Btw, you’re welcome to hold any opinion as that’s called “freedom of speech” but don’t be offended when we Natives believe you to be insensitive to the feelings of others &
possibly a racist.
Yours, TMN78247
That’s an advertising firm that wouldn’t see one more of my advertising dollars.
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