Patent Troll Owner Sparks Chatter On “Redskins” Name Change

The owner of a prolific patent troll firm has secured the trademark for the Washington Bravehearts, spurring rumors that NFL franchise the Washington Redskins – much maligned for its mascot and logo, which offends many Native Americans – could be planning a name change. Aris Mardirossian, a Potomac, Md. resident who was reported to be a neighbor of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, secured the Bravehearts trademark and opened Washington Brave Hearts LLC on Oct. 17. Mardirossian also owns Technology Patents, LLC, which has sued more than 100 domestic and foreign parties, including T-Mobile, AT&T, Microsoft and Motorola, for alleged violations of a global paging system patent.

The Redskins organization has denied a connection between Snyder and Mardirossian’s trademark application. But Snyder is set to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this week prior to the league’s scheduled meetings with members of the Oneida Indian Nation regarding the Redskins name.