National Football League

Agency finds 'Redskin Potatoes' to be disparaging

Published Mar. 19, 2014 5:19 p.m. ET

foxsports

WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected another product with ''Redskin'' in the name, the latest sign that it might rule against the Washington Redskins in an ongoing trademark case.

The agency said Monday that ''Washington Redskin Potatoes'' would be considered disparaging because the product doesn't contain redskin potatoes and therefore would be associated with the football team.

The ruling then stated that current evidence reflects that ''a substantial composite of Native American Indians find the current use of `Redskins' in conjunction with football disparaging.''

The agency issued a similar ruling in January, rejecting ''Redskins Hog Rinds.''

The agency is considering whether to revoke the trademark protection for the NFL team, part of a long-running challenge from a group of Native Americans. A hearing was held 12 months ago.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org