The Supreme Court says the government can't refuse to register trademarks that are considered offensive. Photo courtesy Flickr/NCinDC
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says the government can't refuse to register trademarks that are considered offensive.
The ruling Monday is a win for an Asian-American rock band called the Slants and it gives a major boost to the Washington Redskins in a separate legal fight over the team name.
The justices said part of a law that bars the government from registering disparaging trademarks violates free speech rights.
The Slants tried to trademark the name in 2011, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the request on the ground that the name disparages Asians. A federal appeals court in Washington later said the law barring offensive trademarks is unconstitutional.
The Redskins made similar arguments after the trademark office canceled the team's trademark in 2015.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More like this story
- Justices Struggle with Free Speech Case Over License Plates
- Federal Court Rejects Texas Voter ID Law, Calls 'Unforgiving' to Poor, Minorities
- Supreme Court Refuses to Decide Statute of Limitations in Seale Case
- High Court to Take New Look at Voting Rights Law
- Supreme Court Strikes Down as Vague Part of Immigration Law
Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.
