Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday praised a U.S. District Court ruling that would block the Washington Redskins from renewing its trademark on the team name.

The decision by Judge Gerald Bruce is part of an ongoing battle between the team's owners and some Native Americans who are offended by the name and logo. Bruce ruled in favor of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is denying future trademark protection for the logo after deeming it offensive.

"This is good news," Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor. "The federal government should not protect a team or company that takes pride in bearing a racial slur," Reid said. "But while the ruling is a step in the right direction, this battle is not over."

Team owner Dan Snyder has said he does not plan to change the name, and lawyers for the team will continue to fight to overturn the trademark office ruling.

Reid, whose home state is populated by thousands of Native Americans, has frequently used the Senate floor to criticize the team name and Snyder.

"For far too long, owner Dan Snyder has tried to hide behind tradition," Reid said. "But yesterday's ruling makes clear that his franchise's name only fosters a tradition of racism, bigotry and intolerance. Dan Snyder should do the right thing and change the team name. There's no place for that kind of tradition in the National Football League. And there's certainly no place for it in America."