The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USTPO) denied the trademark application for the Washington Commanders.
The USTPO sent the denial on May 18, citing the «likelihood of confusion» due to two other registrations.
According to the USTPO, the Commanders nickname could be confused with the Commanders’ Classic, an annual college football game between the Air Force and the Army.
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A general view of the Washington Commanders logo on the field before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Cleveland Browns at FedExField on January 1, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
There could also be issues with applications previously filled out by a DC-area citizen who submitted applications for both the Washington Space Commanders and the Washington Wolf Commanders when the Washington organization was in the midst of choosing a new moniker.
Attorney Josh Gerben points out that, legally, the organization has two options: fight so that the team’s name is not confused with the game of college football, or reach an agreement with the citizen, Martin McCaulay, to buy the rights or join forces. together.
January 1, 2023; Landover, Maryland, United States; Washington Commanders fans cheer on the Cleveland Browns during the first half at FedExField. (Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)
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McCaulay has said that he will hand over any trademarks free of charge, but if he goes back on his word, perhaps it could be beneficial monetarily.
Or, possibly worst-case scenario, the Commanders could change their team name again to avoid all of this, which would be the third time since 2020.
The Commanders adopted the new nickname with the start of the 2022 season: they had originally been the «Redskins» until 2020 when, at long last, Daniel Snyder caved to pending fan pressure to change the Native American slur. In the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the organization went through the Washington Football Team.
A general view of fans in front of the Washington Commanders logo during the first half of the game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on September 25, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
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Snyder recently agreed to sell the team to a group led by Josh Harris for more than $6 billion.