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September 14, 2021

Patent office follows law
Patent office follows law, studies dictionaries to rule on trademarks

WASHINGTON — A ruling that the Washington Redskins’ name is disparaging to Native Americans brought swift questions from football fans and small-government conservatives alike: Why is the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office deciding what’s appropriate? Turns out the office draws its authority from Congress — with an assist, in this case, from some old dictionaries.…

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