The Supreme Court has struck down a longstanding clause in federal law that prohibits the Patent and Trademark Office from registering trademarks that “disparage… persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute.” [More]
washington redskins,
Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Dispute Over “Scandalous” Trademarks
By 1.18.17 — Updated: 1.19.17
Should your company’s brand, slogan, or logo lose its federal trademark protection just because it’s offensive? Under current law, yes, but today the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that questions whether or not the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office should involve itself in questions of taste. [More]
Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments On Validity Of “Scandalous, Disparaging” Trademarks
By 9.29.16
Federal law prohibits the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office from registering trademarks deemed “immoral, deceptive, or scandalous,” or that “disparage… persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols.” This has resulted in disputes like the cancellation of the Washington Redskins trademark. This morning, the nation’s highest court agreed to hear arguments in a case seeking to throw that rule out. [More]
Federal Court Cancels Registration Of Redskins Trademarks
By 7.8.15
A year after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office deemed the term “Redskin” offensive, and therefore not eligible for a trademark, the Washington NFL team has been dealt another blow in its attempt to protect its brand. This morning, a federal court agreed with the USPTO and ordered the agency to cancel the team’s trademark. [More]
Patent Office Cancels Washington Redskins Trademark Registration
By 6.18.14
The already heated debate over the continued use of the term “Redskins” by the Washington, D.C., NFL team got hotter this morning, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office canceling the team’s trademark registration, saying it is “disparaging of Native Americans.” [More]
Deaf Redskins Fans Suing for Closed-Captioning
By 9.20.06
Not to be outdone by the blind, the deaf are suing the Washington Redskins alleging “the team is in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act for failing to provide captioning during games” live at FedEx Field.
