I dunno, seems like a slippery slope.

Maybe, one could argue that restricting speech is the slipperier slope.

Dude, you can't call them slopes

Hmm. As for Redskins, I am not the lawyer around here, but it seems like there may be an argument to make that an asian wanting to call his band by a name perceived to disparage asians is different than a group of anglos calling themselves by a name perceived to disparage another group. Why not The Alabama Niggers? The Nashville Peckerwoods?

Maybe there's no case to make on those grounds...thoughts?

Not a lawyer either, but I'm pretty sure the point of this decision is that the First Amendment overrides any assumptions about intent. In other words, it's not up to the government (specifically the US Patent Office) to decide whether the name is intended to be offensive, ironic, or just insensitive (like Redskins). But as we're talking about trademarks, I'd assume that popular market forces will be the ultimate arbiters. Whatever marketing intent the 'Alabama Niggers' might have, I'd assume that even allowing that name, the public outrage and probable protests and boycotts would effectively marginalize and quash it. After all it may be up to the courts to determine what's allowable, but ultimately the public is the arbiter of what's acceptable.

The Redskins name is staying because of their rich history and loyal following. Maybe in the near future, they will adapt the name change and just go with "Skins" which many are adapting to.

Maybe they can change their name to reflect the major racial makeup of the country. White, red, black, yellow, they can name their team the Fourskins.

Nashville Peckerwoods it is!

because "The New York Niggas" sounds more phonetically pleasing and would have a larger potential fan base.

am I the only one who thinks it's not a good band name?

I think that's the point lol

It sounds just perfect as a band name to me, reminds me of The Shins, or The Slits. If the name wasn't presented to me in this context, I'd never have thought twice about it.

The shins = bad band name

The Slits = good band name

such is life and the naming of bands

Well obviously the Patent and Trademark Office didn't like the name.

The Patent and Trademark Office sounds like an educational kids' show from the late 70s.