By Joseph Budd
Native Sun News Correspondent For a number of years, efforts have been made to change offensive mascots in the professional sports world, but two recent developments may signal that these efforts are finally bearing fruit. In Cleveland where the Major League Baseball franchise known as the Indians there was a spark of hope as the team acknowledged that the logo used by Cleveland Indians might change. However, in an abrupt about-face, the team’s director of communications Curtis Danburg went on to their website Cleveland.com and said that the team is not looking to phase out the offensive logo, but mentioned that the team has three different logos, ranging from using the scripted Indians on the uniforms, the Block C style and the Chief Wahoo, that has been the focal point of protests. While Danburg would mention that there is no change planned, it was also mentioned that the designation of the team, via MLB uses in their style guide could possibly reflect a switch to a different logo, but said that the team has no long-term plans for phasing out the offensive mascot at this time. “It’s not even being talked about at the present time,” Danburg said. “It’s certainly a hot issue, especially with what’s going on with the (Washington NFL franchise) and we are certainly monitoring that.” One aspect that should be noted is how the minor league baseball club; the Spokane Indians approached the issue of using the namesake and showing it some proper respect. Given that the team is closely allied with the Spokane Indians, the team elected in 2006 to set up an alternate logo design that included the words Spokane Indians Baseball club---in Salish, the native language. As an affirmation of this, this season the Spokane Indians will have this logo, on their home uniforms, and will make their first appearance on June 13, as well as most Friday and Saturday night contests at Avista Stadium. The Salish Logo has been normally displayed on the sleeves of the jerseys in previous years, but this will be the year of the Spoaqin team. Meanwhile, in Washington a new twist in the Washington football naming case comes from an issue not involving the team. An attempt to produce a product, that would have been called Redskins Hog Rinds, was sent for a trademark to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, was denied, on the grounds that the name “consists of or includes matter which may disparage or bring into contempt or disrepute persons, institutions, beliefs or national symbols.” At the basis of this argument, the Trademark office would also mention that as the name is a derogatory slang term, is offensive, its registration is refused under Section 2(a) of the Trademark Act. Suzan Harjo, a Muscogee lady that has been fighting the Redskin logo for more than 30 years said, “I'm thrilled that the PTO examiner has rightly refused this trademark request. This is the fifth mark PTO examiners have declined. I and five other Native people have formally protested other requests for new trademarks, and I hope we see action on those in due course. These are different from the case I prosecuted between 1992 and 2009, which we lost on a technicality and not on the merits, and the young Native people's case (Blackhorse, 2006-present) now awaiting a decision from the PTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board -- those cases focus on canceling existing trademarks, rather than denying new ones.” To this nature, one has to wonder if the Trademark Office gave a preview of things to come, for any and all ways to stop the Washington franchise from being able to use its’ offensive namesake…but more importantly, over the course of time it may become impossible to market an offensive product, forcing it to change or fail. (Contact Joseph Budd at joseph@rapidnet.com) (Information Courtesy of Deadspin.com and Baseballnation.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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