WFT having difficulties trade marking the name

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

🎶Snyder wears his war wound like a crown
He calls his team WFT🎵
'Cause he likes the name
And he sends it to the finest PR firm in town🎶

Snyder, Snyder likes his money🎶
He makes a lot they say
Spends his days counting
In a garage by the Beltway🎵
*
Now before you all go getting medieval on my arse, remember the guy who doesn't know it's Le'Veon Bell is the one who started it. 🤨

(With a big assist from Augie. 😁)

Edited June 20, 2021 by Ridgewaycynic2013
Blame Augie!

[boater]

9 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

Trout, luv ya bud, but  WFT?  I read the article and not really sure why if this is just temporary and will have a permanent name hopefully by 2022, so they lose on some knock off merchandise, and get a few jokes on Family Guy, big deal.

 

I don’t know why they don’t just go with Washington Redtails.  It’s patriotic, real hero’s from WW2, and addresses breaking diversity barriers.  That’s really the story if the Tuskegee Airmen who broke serious barriers in the Army in our most important war for freedom.  I do not believe there is a professional American Sports team called the Redtails.

 

Trout, I know this title is a trademark topic, not another let’s name the team like we did last year, but two names have had real momentum amongst Washingtonians.  

 

Anyway, thanks for sharing the article.

 

 

Some background information: Some smart alec went and trademarked a bunch of potential names before Snyder did. His goal was to sell the trademark to Snyder. Snyder refused to play ball and went with WFT. Maybe Redtails was among the names the the extortionist trademarked.

[BillsShredder83]

4 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

did you ever see the simpsons one where homer was trying to get betting advice at $5/min. And they would say one letter or word every five seconds. Would …. You…. Like…the…..lockdown….bet….etc.

Lol no but I do love some Simpsons

[Jerry Jabber]

17 hours ago, Starr Almighty said:

I'd prefer WTF to be the new name 

Same here. Since Snyder bought the team, WTF is more appropriate!

[purple haze]

12 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

Yeah, no. Going from one ethnicity theme to another because public pressure demanded it, doesn’t seem logical. 

But I like the thought. How ‘bout The Marshals? Gives credence to police, D.C. and would be named after original owner George Preston Marshall.

You really think naming them after George Preston Marshall is a good thing?  I’m assuming you don’t know anything about him outside of he was the original owner.   And mentioning him along with the police...?   I won’t derail the thread. 

[WotAGuy]

11 hours ago, eball said:

Washington Football Club would be a good permanent name.

The trademark squatter owns that trademark already, according to the article. 

[TroutDog]

28 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

The trademark squatter owns that trademark already, according to the article. 

Kind of silly that is legal, in my opinion.  

[Doc]

45 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

The trademark squatter owns that trademark already, according to the article. 

 

Yup.  As I said, it's dumb that they allowed that and not "Washington Football Team."  Your tax dollars at work...

[co_springs_billsfan]

30 minutes ago, TroutDog said:

Kind of silly that is legal, in my opinion.  

I thought I read somewhere along the way that you could lose the trademark if you didn't actually use it for anything (like a squatter).  Probably a protracted legal process ($) in any event

[cba fan]

13 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

I’ll say something I almost never do, but respectfully disagree.  The Tuskegee Airmen were one of the most heroic stories on WW2, and broke the barrier as you guys may know allowing African American men to be pilots which then sparked the development of the Air Force division post WW2.  Not the only reason, but it’s cited as one of many contributing factors.  This embodies heroism, courage, and progress.  Redskin is pretty obvious as a derogatory depiction of native Americans.  
 

I just read a story in Forbes of he is one of the grandsons of one of the Redtails.  He went on and on what pride of his country, his football team, and what a positive symbol of the progress our country has evolved to name the nations capital after those brave war hero’s.  
 

Besides, can you imagine how they could play it up with one of those vintage planes at the front of the stadium, doing a fly by before games with those Redtails planes.  It would be a marketing bonanza for a team that is just getting over a scandal on top of the public pressure to change the name.

Lastly, most of the articles I’ve read have stated in polling the two names with the most fan appeal in the Washington area are the Redtails, and the Red Wolves.

 

I agree done right it is a no brainer. Incorporate racial awareness of the Tuskegee Airmen into a museum etc etc...... a whole new identify in a positive way.

and FYI: the Airmen also comprised a smaller number of other minority groups so that is a plus also.

17 minutes ago, co_springs_billsfan said:

I thought I read somewhere along the way that you could lose the trademark if you didn't actually use it for anything (like a squatter).  Probably a protracted legal process ($) in any event

reportedly the squatter is selling t shirts of all his squat names.

[Mr. WEO]

9 hours ago, boater said:

Some background information: Some smart alec went and trademarked a bunch of potential names before Snyder did. His goal was to sell the trademark to Snyder. Snyder refused to play ball and went with WFT. Maybe Redtails was among the names the the extortionist trademarked.

 

Wrong.

 

"McCaulay on Wednesday retained a lawyer who is planning to send a letter to team owner Daniel Snyder offering “to open the door to discussions so that, if the franchise is at all concerned about Mr. McCaulay’s trademark registrations or pending applications, the team is aware that there is nothing to fear.”

McCaulay “has no intention to stand in the way of the Washington NFL team,” says the letter, signed by Florida attorney Darren Heitner.

“Mr. McCaulay will gladly do whatever is in his power to clear a path for the Washington NFL team to rebrand itself without the need to incur substantial legal fees,” 

 

"In a 2015 interview with The Washington Post, McCaulay said he had spent more than $20,000 on trademarks applications and considered it a “high-risk investment.” He said this week, though, that if the team wants to pursue a name he has laid claim to, he would be willing to hand it over at no cost." 

[vincec]

21 hours ago, Beast said:

Just confuse everyone and call themselves the Washingtons.

The Washington Washingtons. I like it. They could put old GWs profile on the side of their helmets as their logo. Would be awesome.

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

6 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Wrong.

 

"McCaulay on Wednesday retained a lawyer who is planning to send a letter to team owner Daniel Snyder offering “to open the door to discussions so that, if the franchise is at all concerned about Mr. McCaulay’s trademark registrations or pending applications, the team is aware that there is nothing to fear.”

McCaulay “has no intention to stand in the way of the Washington NFL team,” says the letter, signed by Florida attorney Darren Heitner.

“Mr. McCaulay will gladly do whatever is in his power to clear a path for the Washington NFL team to rebrand itself without the need to incur substantial legal fees,” 

 

"In a 2015 interview with The Washington Post, McCaulay said he had spent more than $20,000 on trademarks applications and considered it a “high-risk investment.” He said this week, though, that if the team wants to pursue a name he has laid claim to, he would be willing to hand it over at no cost." 

IMO this is the worst type of extortion—somebody wanting nothing from you really ****s with your head.  

[Greg S]

WFT is dumb. Personally I don't think they should have changed the name. If they want a new name I could see Redtails or some other name that is close to Redskins.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

1 hour ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

IMO this is the worst type of extortion—somebody wanting nothing from you really ****s with your head.  

Isn't that the basis of TSW? 🤔

[frostbitmic]

Washington Nameless

Washington Congress Critters

Washington Senate Slugs

Washington Monuments

Washington Wasps

Washington Weasels

Washington Georges

Washington Weeds

Washington Insurrectionists

Washington Whiteskins

 

All of these beat WFT

[Fan in San Diego]

Washington White Snakes

 

or Washington POS with this as their logo 💩

 

Or the Washington Peace Pipes with this as their logo 🚬

[Punching Bag]

On 6/20/2021 at 10:35 AM, Chandler#81 said:

I know this. They’re certainly a better reference than Redskins vs Paleskins. Redskins had some very prominent figures as well. It’s STILL an ethnic reference which I’ll be surprised if they dare go that route again.

 

It would be very ironic for the team which was last to integrate. 

Like $nyder did saying "name would never change" the previous owner said he would never integrate.

8 hours ago, vincec said:

The Washington Washingtons. I like it. They could put old GWs profile on the side of their helmets as their logo. Would be awesome.

 

NFLPA would object. Washington had slaves.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Here’s a WTF

 

 

[Old Coot]

On 6/20/2021 at 2:04 AM, Starr Almighty said:

I'd prefer WTF to be the new name 

 

WTF - What the F*** does that mean?

[ThurmanThomasEnglishMuffin]

There is plenty of room for a savvy marketer to make due with the WFT and WTF cognitive double take.

 

I think WFT should take the NFC East this year.

[DrDawkinstein]

On 6/21/2021 at 12:46 AM, Mr. WEO said:

 

Wrong.

 

"McCaulay on Wednesday retained a lawyer who is planning to send a letter to team owner Daniel Snyder offering “to open the door to discussions so that, if the franchise is at all concerned about Mr. McCaulay’s trademark registrations or pending applications, the team is aware that there is nothing to fear.”

McCaulay “has no intention to stand in the way of the Washington NFL team,” says the letter, signed by Florida attorney Darren Heitner.

“Mr. McCaulay will gladly do whatever is in his power to clear a path for the Washington NFL team to rebrand itself without the need to incur substantial legal fees,” 

 

"In a 2015 interview with The Washington Post, McCaulay said he had spent more than $20,000 on trademarks applications and considered it a “high-risk investment.” He said this week, though, that if the team wants to pursue a name he has laid claim to, he would be willing to hand it over at no cost." 

 

Even if the guy wants $100k, just pay it. It's (another) bad look for Snyder. Just buy the name and move on. Wouldn't have even been a news story. But now we all know he got out-maneuvered by some nobody.

[Mr. WEO]

3 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Even if the guy wants $100k, just pay it. It's (another) bad look for Snyder. Just buy the name and move on. Wouldn't have even been a news story. But now we all know he got out-maneuvered by some nobody.

 

Snyder has had many bad looks over the years.  Not paying some dude for a name on  what truly is a lame list of team names isn't mine of them.

[BigDingus]

On 6/20/2021 at 7:57 AM, machine gun kelly said:

I’ll say something I almost never do, but respectfully disagree.  The Tuskegee Airmen were one of the most heroic stories on WW2, and broke the barrier as you guys may know allowing African American men to be pilots which then sparked the development of the Air Force division post WW2.  Not the only reason, but it’s cited as one of many contributing factors.  This embodies heroism, courage, and progress.  Redskin is pretty obvious as a derogatory depiction of native Americans.  
 

I just read a story in Forbes of he is one of the grandsons of one of the Redtails.  He went on and on what pride of his country, his football team, and what a positive symbol of the progress our country has evolved to name the nations capital after those brave war hero’s.  
 

Besides, can you imagine how they could play it up with one of those vintage planes at the front of the stadium, doing a fly by before games with those Redtails planes.  It would be a marketing bonanza for a team that is just getting over a scandal on top of the public pressure to change the name.

Lastly, most of the articles I’ve read have stated in polling the two names with the most fan appeal in the Washington area are the Redtails, and the Red Wolves.

 

 

No, you're right about how there's a lot to be proud of with the Redtails, but naming the team after them would be construed as swinging the pendulum too far back in the other direction, like an over-correction to appeal to another ethnic group. People would cry about it being part of a liberal agenda, call for boycotts (even though those same people probably cry about cancel culture), and have opportunistic politicians using it as a way to gain political favor by screaming about how "woke" the NFL has become.

Even if the Tuskegee airmen were heroes & an inspiring story, the Redskin name was dropped due to being a racial issue. They're probably better off avoiding anything remotely tied to race, no matter how positive, in their name going forward.

[TBBills]

1 hour ago, BigDingus said:

 

No, you're right about how there's a lot to be proud of with the Redtails, but naming the team after them would be construed as swinging the pendulum too far back in the other direction, like an over-correction to appeal to another ethnic group. People would cry about it being part of a liberal agenda, call for boycotts (even though those same people probably cry about cancel culture), and have opportunistic politicians using it as a way to gain political favor by screaming about how "woke" the NFL has become.

Even if the Tuskegee airmen were heroes & an inspiring story, the Redskin name was dropped due to being a racial issue. They're probably better off avoiding anything remotely tied to race, no matter how positive, in their name going forward.

What sucks is people now look for any reason to call something racist so even naming them the redtails would allow idiots to respond. 

 

The world just sucks anymore.

[djp14150]

On 6/19/2021 at 11:18 PM, TroutDog said:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/06/19/washington-football-team-trademark-refused/
 

Interesting to me. They go from fighting tooth and nail to keep the former name (of which they allowed the TM to lapse) and now they are having difficulties in trade marking the new generic name. 
 

To be honest, I kind of like WFT. 
 

Edit: oh, by the way, this has nothing to do with Covid or Beasley so this thread has that going for it. 😃 

For a long time people knew the name was racist and they need to change it.  Many fans went in and copy and trademarked names the team could be renamed to as well as web sites.

 

these people are asking for over a million for the name rights.

 

the one name that has been popular is to rename it after the Tuskegee airman nickname of red tails.  But from that I see them being known as tail chasers which the front office of the team got hammered with 

[BigDingus]

19 hours ago, TBBills said:

What sucks is people now look for any reason to call something racist so even naming them the redtails would allow idiots to respond. 

 

The world just sucks anymore.

Hey, I'm with you there man. It's nearly impossible to even have a conversation about it without it derailing into political buzzwords & insults. 

Everything is either called racist, or it's seen as pandering/woke by the other side. It's just become a back & forth exercise in stupidity.

[John Adams]

On 6/20/2021 at 9:33 AM, Doc said:

It was a dumb rejection by the USPTO.

 

Oh cool a trademark attorney. Do share why. 

[What a Tuel]

Didn't some jerk trademark a bunch of the names he thought the team would take in an effort to pretty much extort Snyder into buying it from him? Isn't this why they just haven't picked the redtails or generals or monuments or whatever?

 

Yes, here it is:

Washington Redskins replacement names trademarked by one man - CNN

Edited June 25, 2021 by What a Tuel

[cba fan]

On 6/22/2021 at 2:44 PM, Old Coot said:

 

WTF - What the F*** does that mean?

Washington Team Football.

but of course just for the joke aspect is why it came up.

[RiotAct]

On 6/24/2021 at 5:06 AM, TBBills said:

What sucks is people now look for any reason to call something racist so even naming them the redtails would allow idiots to respond. 

 

The world just sucks anymore.

yep.  Matter of time before the Buffalo Bills are renamed…

 

(only half-joking)

[Punching Bag]

5 hours ago, What a Tuel said:

Didn't some jerk trademark a bunch of the names he thought the team would take in an effort to pretty much extort Snyder into buying it from him? Isn't this why they just haven't picked the redtails or generals or monuments or whatever?

 

Yes, here it is:

Washington Redskins replacement names trademarked by one man - CNN

 

In same article you cited without link:

 

From Tue July 14, 2020:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/us/washington-nfl-trademark-spt-trnd/index.html

Quote

 

However, he's not some sort of trademark troll trying to make a quick buck. In fact, he's the opposite.

 

Despite holding trademarks for a number of potential team names, McCauley said that he offered them for free in writing on July 4. However, he said that he has not been contacted by the team or the NFL.

 

 

 

They probably could get a name for minimum amount (less than cost for one of $nyder's dinner parties) and some box seats for guy.

[Doc]

On 6/25/2021 at 8:55 AM, John Adams said:

Oh cool a trademark attorney. Do share why. 

 

Because they allowed "Washington Football Club."  To a squatter, no less.

[John Adams]

52 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Because they allowed "Washington Football Club."  To a squatter, no less.

Thats not an answer based on trademark law. Try again. 

[Doc]

31 minutes ago, John Adams said:

Thats not an answer based on trademark law. Try again. 

 

Where in the law does it say that "club" is acceptable and "team" isn't?  Or that they constitute the same exact thing?

Edited June 27, 2021 by Doc

[Mr. WEO]

1 hour ago, Doc said:

 

Where in the law does it say that "club" is acceptable and "team" isn't?  Or that they constitute the same exact thing?

 

It's in the decision:

 

The office said trademarks given for the "Washington Football Club" to a man named Philip McCauley in 2015 could cause confusion among consumers, according to Sports Illustrated. Additionally, the office said the name is problematically generic. 

"Consumers would be confused, mistaken, or deceived as to the commercial source of the goods and/or services of the parties," the patent office said Friday of its refusal, SI reported. 

 

Pretty straightforward.

[Doc]

4 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

It's in the decision:

 

The office said trademarks given for the "Washington Football Club" to a man named Philip McCauley in 2015 could cause confusion among consumers, according to Sports Illustrated. Additionally, the office said the name is problematically generic. 

"Consumers would be confused, mistaken, or deceived as to the commercial source of the goods and/or services of the parties," the patent office said Friday of its refusal, SI reported. 

 

Pretty straightforward.

 

Yeah, I could see people getting confused, mistaken or deceived...by goods and/or services that were never offered in the first place and are never going to be offered, for obvious (to most) reasons.  LOL!

 

Again, stupid decision.  Your tax dollars at work.

Edited June 27, 2021 by Doc

[Mr. WEO]

8 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Yeah, I could see people getting confused, mistaken or deceived...by goods and/or services that were never going to be offered.  LOL!

 

Again, stupid decision.

 

The decision isn't based on what or how many good or services a trademark holder has or has yet to produce, doc. That you don't understand it  doesn't make it "dumb"...that's just  how it works.

[Doc]

10 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

The decision isn't based on what or how many good or services a trademark holder has or has yet to produce, doc. That you don't understand it  doesn't make it "dumb"...that's just  how it works.

 

This isn't something done by robots.  Everyone knows the other guy was a squatter with no intention of doing anything other than trying to extort money from Snyder (Oh wait, you believed him when he claimed otherwise ). 

Edited June 27, 2021 by Doc

[Mr. WEO]

40 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

This isn't something done by robots.  Everyone knows the other guy was a squatter with no intention of doing anything other than trying to extort money from Snyder (Oh wait, you believed him when he claimed otherwise ). 

 

No, not by robots (whatever the f that means).  The guy made some T-shirts for sale with the names he trademarked on them, thus satisfying the prior use requirement for trademarking.  The law allows for this, hence the existence of squatting.  It doesn't matter if you like it or not (either).

 

Anyway,  how much did the squatter extort from Snyder so far? 

 

He offered the WFC name a year ago.  Obviously Snyder doesn't want it (or he would have taken it).  The ONLY reason that Snyder applied for the trademark on WFT is because fans are taking to it and it is selling merchandise.  He was too stupid to come up with another name, so now he has to or anyone can produce and legally sell WFT merch.  Oh, and the squatter guy applied for the "WFT" trademark before Snyder--yet he hasn't been granted it either.  

 

Simple...