David Beckham's tenure as co-owner of an MLS franchise has faced a variety of problems, but the latest one could see the team being involved in a change of name even before they take the field for the first time.
According to a report by NBC Sports, Inter Miami FC could be forced to change its name since Inter Milan has filed a lawsuit against the MLS for trademark infringement.
The Italian side claims that "the term Inter is related around the world to the nerazzurri and no one else," according to the report. To make matters worse, the first argument held up by the league has been turned down by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The dismissed argument by the league suggested that there are several teams around the world that include the term "Inter" in their name, which should forbid Inter Milan to claim full rights over the name. The league's document even includes the names Internacional de Porto Alegre (Brazil), Inter Nashville FC (NSPL) and Inter Leipzig (Germany). Unfortunately for the league, the USPTO remains unconvinced and has dismissed the claim.
All Inter Milan needs to do is prove that consumers think of them when they hear the name "Inter", and considering their resume and legacy, it could be easy to prove.
Inter Miami FC has already started preparing for their MLS debut on March 1, 2020. Nevertheless, the team could be forced to change its name by the end of the year if Inter Milan can prove their claims.
