Federal trademark law has always prohibited the registration and ownership of federal trademarks that may disparage … persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs or national symbols. The U.S. Supreme Court. It applies specifically to racial and ethnic groups, and was the basis for the Washington Redskins losing their trademark in 2014.
A music group, The Slants faced the same issue. The U .S. Supreme Court struck down the federal statute that prohibited these types of marks as a violation of The First Amendment right to free speech. Read the full opinion below…
matal v. tamCreative Genius Law is the strategic legal partner for creative entrepreneurs and innovative businesses. We work with brands to develop, protect and monetize their trademark strategy. If you’d like to start the conversation, submit an intake here.