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Offensive Trademark ban violates the first amendment per Federal Appeals court

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Interesting news in relation to the Washington Redskins trademark

Law360, New York (December 22, 2015, 11:51 AM ET) -- The Federal Circuit ruled Tuesday that the federal government’s ban on “disparaging” trademark registrations is a violation of the First Amendment, striking down the provision that was used to revoke the Washington Redskins' trademark registrations.

The ruling, which came in a separate case filed by members of a band called The Slants who were refused a registration on their name on the grounds that it was offensive to Asian-Americans, declared the Lanham Act’s Section 2a to be an unconstitutional discrimination based on unpopular speech.

“Many of the marks rejected as disparaging convey hurtful speech that harms members of oft-stigmatized communities,” the appeals court wrote. “But the First Amendment protects even hurtful speech.”

“The government cannot refuse to register disparaging marks because it disapproves of the expressive messages conveyed by the marks,” the court wrote.

http://www.law360.com/ip/articles/7...e=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ip
 
Interesting. Free speech is a fine line to walk.

Yeah, the court even addressed that further here from NPR:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...arks-over-offensive-names-appeals-court-rules

In its conclusion, the court says it realizes that its decision could mean more registrations of offensive marks.

"But much the same can be (and has been) said of many decisions upholding First Amendment protection of speech that is hurtful or worse," the majority wrote. "Whatever our personal feelings about the mark at issue here, or other disparaging marks, the First Amendment forbids government regulators to deny registration because they find the speech likely to offend others. Even when speech 'inflict great pain,' our Constitution protects it 'to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.'"
 

collige

Banned
Good. The appeal to the trademark rules as a way to change the Redskins name was just a slimy, underhanded was to get around the fact that Dan Snyder is a huge asshole.
 

entremet

Member
The Redskins situation doesn't need the federal government, with it's vast powers, to fix.

It should be done within the NFL. No need to get the federal government involved.

Blame the NFL owners.

Good ruling.
 

FyreWulff

Member
Time to register a bunch of racist trademarks and sue the KKK, Westboro, and other various groups every time they use them.
 
nobody is saying they can't use the name, the government just isn't obligated to give them legal protection from other people using it.

So in essence one could argue trademarks are government speech and it can refuse to endorse it.

I think the only way someone could come to this is a mix of the 14th and 1st. But courts have already restricted speech in places like public airwaves because the government has a place in endorsing it.

the First Amendment forbids government regulators to deny registration because they find the speech likely to offend others. Even when speech 'inflict great pain,' our Constitution protects it 'to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.'"

This is all kinds of horrible reasoning. Again they could go the 14th+1st amendment root but just the first amendment root seems counter to so many precedents on the government being able to restrict speech if it becomes government speech.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_speech

This is the very thing the supreme court just decided on the confederate license plates

http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/walker-v-texas-division-sons-of-confederate-veterans-inc/
 

neshcom

Banned
Seems a shame to offer protection to marks that disparage and taunt minority groups. I worry that offering that legal protection will limit/hamper free speech criticisms of those marks.
 

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
The more interesting aspect is the effort and expense the owner is going to protect his right to employ and amplify a term he knows to be racist. And this would be a different story if native Americans were buying hats and tickets in significant numbers.

But they can't because we employed genocide and enacted racial segregation against them for centuries.

"Redskin" has exactly the same weight and purpose as the n-word. It's at best condescending and like the n-word contains only the color of the person being identified versus some romantic aspect of their culture.
 

entremet

Member
nobody is saying they can't use the name, the government just isn't obligated to give them legal protection from other people using it.

So in essence one could argue trademarks are government speech and it can refuse to endorse it.

I think the only way someone could come to this is a mix of the 14th and 1st. But courts have already restricted speech in places like public airwaves because the government has a place in endorsing it.
What's interesting is that cable doesn't have those restrictions, but cable toes the line because of advertiser pressure.
 

Kinyou

Member
The ruling, which came in a separate case filed by members of a band called The Slants who were refused a registration on their name on the grounds that it was offensive to Asian-Americans, declared the Lanham Act’s Section 2a to be an unconstitutional discrimination based on unpopular speech.
Should perhaps be noted that the members of this band are all Asian Americans themselves.
 

FyreWulff

Member
What's interesting is that cable doesn't have those restrictions, but cable toes the line because of advertiser pressure.

well that and most cable networks are owned by one of the broadcast companies, and those companies like being able to shift shows around at a whim
 
What's interesting is that cable doesn't have those restrictions, but cable toes the line because of advertiser pressure.

Because cable is private speech. The government doesn't have to be content neutral on its own speech which the public airwaves are under current case law

Nobody is restricting anyone from using these names and making money off them. What denying registration is doing is saying the government doesn't have to use its voice (which doesn't have to be neutral) to protect this speech and thus reenforce it.

There is a lot of examples on the government being able to restrict speech when their dollars are involved. See the link above

Let them. They have that right, just as you have the right not to support them because of it.

This is not about letting them this is about the government giving them benefits and using its money to protect them.
 
The more interesting aspect is the effort and expense the owner is going to protect his right to employ and amplify a term he knows to be racist. And this would be a different story if native Americans were buying hats and tickets in significant numbers.

But they can't because we employed genocide and enacted racial segregation against them for centuries.

"Redskin" has exactly the same weight and purpose as the n-word. It's at best condescending and like the n-word contains only the color of the person being identified versus some romantic aspect of their culture.

The Ruling was actually for a band called 'The Slants' an Asian American band. They used the name to 'take back' or reclaim the name.

It would be like an Native American Band being called 'The Redskins'
 

Briarios

Member
I have a feeling the Supreme Court may overturn this. The goverment shouldn't be compelled to to protect basically the financial rights of someone engaging in bigoted speech. Trademarks just give them protection of the mark, but thats not required for them to use the name.

In other words, the still have freedom of speech whether or not it's approved ... They just won't have legal protections of someone appropriating the name. However, any designs for their band name would still be protected. Copyright is inherent.
 
Time to register a bunch of racist trademarks and sue the KKK, Westboro, and other various groups every time they use them.

Do the KKK and Westboro sell a lot of merchandise? Remember registering a trade mark only gives you protection for the use of the mark in the course of trade.

I can write and say "Redskins" as much as I want, I just can't sell hats with it on.
 

geomon

Member
I do not understand why this is considered and being treated like a free speech issue. The government isn't denying anybody the use of these offensive terms. All they are saying is we will not guarantee you protection for your racist/bigoted/offensive trademark against piracy, etc.
 

FyreWulff

Member
Do the KKK and Westboro sell a lot of merchandise? Remember registering a trade mark only gives you protection for the use of the mark in the course of trade.

I can write and say "Redskins" as much as I want, I just can't sell hats with it on.

yes, well at least the KKK
 
nobody is saying they can't use the name, the government just isn't obligated to give them legal protection from other people using it.

So in essence one could argue trademarks are government speech and it can refuse to endorse it.

I think the only way someone could come to this is a mix of the 14th and 1st. But courts have already restricted speech in places like public airwaves because the government has a place in endorsing it.


This is all kinds of horrible reasoning. Again they could go the 14th+1st amendment root but just the first amendment root seems counter to so many precedents on the government being able to restrict speech if it becomes government speech.

OK, first, FCC v. Pacifica Foundation does not say what you think it says. Besides, both it and much of Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC were bad law when written and remain bad law now. The reasoning allowing regulation of indecency rather than just obscenity in Pacifica was "First, the broadcast media have established a uniquely pervasive presence in the lives of all Americans." and "Second, broadcasting is uniquely accessible to children, even those too young to read." It was under this line of reasoning that the Court justified the FCC being able to regulate indecency rather than just obscenity. Justice Brennan's dissent on the case does a wonderful job pointing out the huge flaws of the majority opinion.

As you may have noted above, the constitutional ruling in the case had absolutely nothing to do with any idea of government speech.

Second, the 14th Amendment has nothing to do with this case as the government entities, rights, and statutes involved are all entirely federal and therefore don't require the 14th for any sort of incorporation.
 

KingBroly

Banned
I have a feeling the Supreme Court may overturn this. The goverment shouldn't be compelled to to protect basically the financial rights of someone engaging in bigoted speech. Trademarks just give them protection of the mark, but thats not required for them to use the name.

In other words, the still have freedom of speech whether or not it's approved ... They just won't have legal protections of someone appropriating the name. However, any designs for their band name would still be protected. Copyright is inherent.

Nope. The Supreme Court protects speech in all circumstances, unless you have a fucking good reason to restrict it. This simply isn't one of those times.

This has been on the political backburner for years, but no one's ever taken it far enough to be a landmark case in front of SCOTUS.
 

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
The Ruling was actually for a band called 'The Slants' an Asian American band. They used the name to 'take back' or reclaim the name.

It would be like an Native American Band being called 'The Redskins'

I'm aware. I read the whole thing. I'm talking about the continuing Redskins saga, which is going to be a matter for the NFL and the public, not the Supreme Court, especially in light of this case.
 
Not sure what that original judge thought would happen when it was decided to get into what type of things are offensive or not and if the government has the ability to restrict that.

This is a good ruling. This ultimately is a NFL issue. Going to be up to them, fans, and the franchise on how it is handled. And that is how it should be.
 

Brandson

Member
This is the ultimate approach I expected to see when first reading of the Redskins trademark case. There may also be a distinction between an offensive trademark and purely hate speech registered as a trademark. If someone wanted to register a slogan of actual hate speech as a trademark, the result might be different. Trademark protection is based on use. If your slogan is prohibited from being displayed publicly (like hate speech would be), then presumably you would not be able to get a trademark for it because you wouldn't be able to demonstrate any legal use. I don't think it's presently breaking any laws to say the word Redskins when referring to the name of a football team or corporation. While the word offends, it probably won't ever amount to hate speech when used in that context. The way to a name-change for the team probably lies in market pressures, not legal battles.
 

GaimeGuy

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16
A trademark is more about brand protection than free expression. Certainly a brand could be a form of expressing a core identity - sports franchises do this all the time, naming themselves after an aspect of the region (IE: The Lakers originating in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes). But they don't have to be. Not sure I agree with a blanket ruling that the clause is always or never unconstitutional
 
Nope. The Supreme Court protects speech in all circumstances, unless you have a fucking good reason to restrict it. This simply isn't one of those times.

This has been on the political backburner for years, but no one's ever taken it far enough to be a landmark case in front of SCOTUS.

But no one is stopping them from using the name, The Slants. The government, by denying a trademark registration, is only withholding the exclusivity of their use of that mark within a certain class of goods. I would hardly a refusal to register an attack on free speech. There's no inherent right to a trademark registration under the constitution.

I find this ruling ridiculous and hope it gets overturned.
 

Somnid

Member
Seems like a social problem, certainly I haven't seen one at the power and influence level that requires specific legal intervention. Fairly sure public pressure will continue to ground users of such trademarks down and we don't need to cede any free speech ground to simply accommodate our displeasure with such things.
 
But no one is stopping them from using the name, The Slants. The government, by denying a trademark registration, is only withholding the exclusivity of their use of that mark within a certain class of goods. I would hardly a refusal to register an attack on free speech. There's no inherent right to a trademark registration under the constitution.

I find this ruling ridiculous and hope it gets overturned.

The government can't withhold that exclusively based on their opinion of whether or not the mark is offensive, which is what the lower court tried to do. It's a clear and obvious 1st amendment violation. If the government is going to provide a service, whether or not anyone is required to utilize that service, it has to be rendered within the law and constitution.
 

Makonero

Member
But no one is stopping them from using the name, The Slants. The government, by denying a trademark registration, is only withholding the exclusivity of their use of that mark within a certain class of goods. I would hardly a refusal to register an attack on free speech. There's no inherent right to a trademark registration under the constitution.

I find this ruling ridiculous and hope it gets overturned.

The government can't say what is or isn't offensive speech. By not allowing registration, they are effectively censoring a company by denying them rights given to others. As much as I don't like offensive speech, it isn't the government's job to choose.

You can boycott them all you like.
 
Not sure what that original judge thought would happen when it was decided to get into what type of things are offensive or not and if the government has the ability to restrict that.

This is a good ruling. This ultimately is a NFL issue. Going to be up to them, fans, and the franchise on how it is handled. And that is how it should be.

Government isn't restricting anything by refusing a trademark registration, except their ability to sue others for using the same name. It's simply a lack of endorsement by the gov't, and I see no problem with that.

Also, the USPTO has been refusing to register offensive marks for a long time (since 1947?), so this isn't something new. The bar for offensiveness changes with the times, as well. See "Old Glory Condoms" case.

The government can't say what is or isn't offensive speech. By not allowing registration, they are effectively censoring a company by denying them rights given to others. As much as I don't like offensive speech, it isn't the government's job to choose.

You can boycott them all you like.

How are they censoring them? The band is still free to use that as their name, as the Redskins are free to continue using that as theirs. And those specific rights to that name are also not going to be granted to others.
 
Government isn't restricting anything by refusing a trademark registration, except their ability to sue others for using the same name. It's simply a lack of endorsement by the gov't, and I see no problem with that.

Also, the USPTO has been refusing to register offensive marks for a long time (since 1947?), so this isn't something new. The bar for offensiveness changes with the times, as well. See "Old Glory Condoms" case.



How are they censoring them? The band is still free to use that as their name, as the Redskins are free to continue using that as theirs. And those specific rights to that name are also not going to be granted to others.
The ruling was they were revoking the registration because they felt it was offensive. Doesn't matter if the act of registering a trademark itself is optional or not. A government agency can't deny/revoke one based on level of offensiveness, unless they meet the extremely high bar the Supreme Court set for them.
 

GaimeGuy

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16
If anything this is a 14th amendment violation, not a first amendment violation.
 
But no one is stopping them from using the name, The Slants. The government, by denying a trademark registration, is only withholding the exclusivity of their use of that mark within a certain class of goods. I would hardly a refusal to register an attack on free speech. There's no inherent right to a trademark registration under the constitution.

I find this ruling ridiculous and hope it gets overturned.

There doesn't need to be a right to trademark registration. What's important is that the government accepts trademark registrations by default and only rejects them under certain exceptions. The ruling is saying the government can't reject them just because it disapproves of the trademark's expressive contents.
 

GaimeGuy

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16
As I've said before, the 14th Amendment has no place here at all since this is a case based entirely on federal law and only involves a federal agency.
Wouldn't the equal protections clause apply if the court felt that the restriction was arbitrary?
 
There doesn't need to be a right to trademark registration. What's important is that the government accepts trademark registrations by default and only rejects them under certain exceptions. The ruling is saying the government can't reject them just because it disapproves of the trademark's expressive contents.

Spoken like someone who's never done a trademark registration. There are a number of reasons why a trademark registration wouldn't be accepted. Is denying registration of a mark for being descriptive also a restriction of free speech? Suggestive?

Good. Don't the NFL off the hook for once again neglecting to do their job.

What does this have to do with the NFL? Case and ruling are about a band called The Slants.
 

Suikoguy

I whinny my fervor lowly, for his length is not as great as those of the Hylian war stallions
I don't get this ruling. Not registering a racist trademark does not censor or stop anyone from using it.
 
Spoken like someone who's never done a trademark registration. There are a number of reasons why a trademark registration wouldn't be accepted. Is denying registration of a mark for being descriptive also a restriction of free speech? Suggestive?

I never said there were or even should be no restrictions or hoops to jump or through and neither is the court in this case. It's just saying that one specific kind of restriction isn't allowed. None of that changes the fact that the PTO is supposed to allow registration barring certain exceptions, the wisdom and constitutionality of which are not up for evaluation in this case.

This will not hold up if brought to a higher court.

Well, maybe if Scalia is casting the deciding vote. But otherwise...

The only higher court is the U.S. Supreme Court and my view is that the only votes I'd be fairly certain about on this would be four to affirm.
 
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