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Like me, you may have heard the story that Dan Snyder once trademarked 'Washington Warriors', but what does that actually mean?
Now that the #Redskins name change issue is reaching another crescendo, I decided to take a look.
Here we go:
Like me, you may have heard the story that Dan Snyder once trademarked 'Washington Warriors', but what does that actually mean?
Now that the #Redskins name change issue is reaching another crescendo, I decided to take a look.
Here we go:
(Also, I am not a trademark lawyer, so give me some rope here)
There's no such thing as 'one' trademark - you need to specify what your trademark is for when applying.
The 1st time the #Redskins trademarked 'Washington Warriors' was in March 2000, for clothing/merch;
There's no such thing as 'one' trademark - you need to specify what your trademark is for when applying.
The 1st time the #Redskins trademarked 'Washington Warriors' was in March 2000, for clothing/merch;
That previous trademark was considered 'abandoned' in 2004, and then in 2007 the 'Arena Football League NYC' trademarked the Washington Warriors name for 'general merchandise' including clothes, but crucially also for 'presenting football games before live audiences'
That Arena football league trademark was also considered abandoned in 2009.
Fast forward to May 2014 when a company called 'Washington Warriors LLC' started filing trademarks.
This 'company' registered the trademarks to a unmarked apartment building in Alexandria;
Fast forward to May 2014 when a company called 'Washington Warriors LLC' started filing trademarks.
This 'company' registered the trademarks to a unmarked apartment building in Alexandria;
This company holds four separate trademarks covering things such as 'collectable helmets, bobble head dolls, miniature footballs', etc.
Crucially; these trademarks are still live. They have not been abandoned.
Crucially; these trademarks are still live. They have not been abandoned.
Now here's where things start to get interesting.
In 2014 a new company registered out of Maryland called 'Washington Warriors Inc' registered the trademark for 'ENTERTAINMENT IN THE NATURE OF FOOTBALL GAMES', and all associated merchandise.
They held the trademark for 13months
In 2014 a new company registered out of Maryland called 'Washington Warriors Inc' registered the trademark for 'ENTERTAINMENT IN THE NATURE OF FOOTBALL GAMES', and all associated merchandise.
They held the trademark for 13months
Why did they lose that trademark? It appears because someone opposed it.
And since June 2014, this counter-claimant now owns everything related to the trademark - all merch, all football games, all broadcast rights.
And since June 2014, this counter-claimant now owns everything related to the trademark - all merch, all football games, all broadcast rights.
The counter-claimant is NOT associated with the #Redskins in any fashion.
Just the opposite.
Deadspin did a feature back in 2014 on 'Don Terry' who essentially registered the trademark because he thinks the #Redskins name will change, and he wants money https://deadspin.com/will-this-random-guy-own-the-next-name-of-the-washingto-1593785958
Just the opposite.
Deadspin did a feature back in 2014 on 'Don Terry' who essentially registered the trademark because he thinks the #Redskins name will change, and he wants money https://deadspin.com/will-this-random-guy-own-the-next-name-of-the-washingto-1593785958
Again, I am not a trademark lawyer.
But from my own research and digging, it appears that the likelihood of the 'Washington Warriors' being the future name of a re-branded #Redskins team is, for now, off the table.
But from my own research and digging, it appears that the likelihood of the 'Washington Warriors' being the future name of a re-branded #Redskins team is, for now, off the table.
