Etsy bans sale of items with Redskins name, imagery

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Etsy, the online marketplace for all things cutesy and handmade, announced this week it's banning the sale of all items depicting the Washington Redskins name or logo, calling them "disparaging" to Native Americans.

A blog post on the Etsy website by policy team manager Bonnie Broeren said the move was inspired by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decision in June to cancel six trademarks held by the NFL team.

"Like the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, we at Etsy find the opinion of the minority group itself to carry most weight in determining whether the mascot is disparaging," Broeren wrote. "In no uncertain terms, Native American groups have consistently advocated and litigated that the term 'redskin(s)' is disparaging and damaging to Native Americans. Therefore, it will no longer be permitted in our marketplace."

Etsy said it would continue to allow sellers to offer items with the Washington location and team colors, but banned all use of the word "Redskins" and the Redskins logo as of Tuesday.