WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has ruled that the Washington Redskins can keep their name and logo.
It was a reversal of an earlier ruling by the U.S. Trial Trademark and Appeals Board, which held that the trademarks may be disparaging.
Kollar-Kotelly said in her ruling that "is unsupported by substantial evidence, is logically flawed, and fails to apply the correct legal standard to its own finding of facts."
In an 84-page opinion, the judge also noted that the 25-year delay in pursuing the challenge to the Redskins name was unreasonable and precluded consideration of the case.
She concurred with the argument brought by the team, which has had the nickname since 1933. The franchise was formed as the Boston Braves in 1932, changed nicknames the following year, and moved to Washington in 1937.
Kollar-Kotelly also said testimony of the seven Native Americans who brought the suit was not supported by independent evidence, finding their words "clearly do not constitute a 'substantial composite' of Native Americans.
