That fight will play out Wednesday in the nation's highest court as the justices consider whether a law barring disparaging trademarks violates the band's free-speech rights. The government canceled the team's trademarks last year after finding they are disparaging to Native Americans. A divided federal appeals court handed the band a victory four years later, ruling that the law prohibiting offensive trademarks is unconstitutional. But the justices declined to take up the unusual request and a Virginia federal appeals court has put the Redskins case on hold pending the outcome of the Slants case. A loss of the team's trademark would strip the Redskins of certain legal protections, but would not force it to change the name.

Source: ABC News January 15, 2017 12:57 UTC