Washington on the defense! Martin McCaulay, the self-proclaimed “Trademark Hog” and the holder of several possible Washington team-related trademarks states he is offering to give up his rights under the condition that the previously named Redskins franchise donates to exclusively Native American charities of his choosing. McCaulay is the owner of forty-four (44) several possible replacement names such as “Washington Monuments, Pigskins, Americans, Veterans, Red-Tailed Hawks, Federals and more.” Although this sounds like a normal trademark squatter “shake down,” McCaulay asserts he would give the marks for free. The franchise has not responded to McCaulay’s email or offer.
As you may recall, there has been a public push to change the name and logo of the team to a non-derogatory name following a scathing letter from the National Congress of American Indians, an organization representing over 5 million Native Americans. The name was finally dropped on July 13, 2020 and the team began their search for another name.
McCaulay has taken strides to make sure he is playing by the rulebook in applying for the marks by buying one hundred (100) Pigskin coffee mugs and listing them for sale online to meet the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s requirements that the goods bearing the mark be “used in commerce” and “offered for sale” on www.WashingtonAmericansFootball.com.
Image by Rob Carr (Riggosrag.com).