The U.S. Patent Office has revoked the trademark of the NFL’s Washington Redskins

The U.S. Patent Office has revoked the trademark of the NFL’s Washington Redskins, after ruling that the name disparages a minority. The agency ruled in a case brought by five Native Americans. The decision does not require the team to change its name.

The the petitioners proved that “the term ‘Redskins’ was disparaging of Native Americans, when used in relation to professional football services, at the times the various registrations involved in the cancellation proceeding were issued.”

As a result, the agency says, “the federal registrations for the ‘Redskins’ trademarks involved in this proceeding must be cancelled.”