NFL Washington Football Team's Trademark Bids Rebuffed (1)

A trademark examiner refused to register “Washington Football Team” trademarks because they combine a geographic descriptor with a generic term, and because something similar is already registered.

The NFL team went by “Washington Football Team” last year and intends to again next season. In July, it applied for a word mark and two stylized burgundy word marks. The U.S. Patent and Trademark June 18 refused to register all three.

In addition to being geographically descriptive, the mark also created a likelihood of consumer confusion with an earlier application for “Washington Football Club,” the PTO said in a non-final refusal. Pro ...