VICTORY: US Supreme Court Rules Banning ‘Offensive’ Trademarks ‘Unconstitutional’

The Supreme Court came to a decision on Monday to throw out a federal prohibition barring “disparaging trademarks as a constitutional violation” in a huge, pro-free speech ruling.

The ruling came down in part because of an “Asian-American” band named The Slants. The court ruled 8-0 in favor of the band, which previously was denied their trademark because their name was deemed “disparaging to people of Asian descent”. Since that’s idiotic, the ruling breaks major ground in regards to free speech at a time when free speech is on the tips of everyone’s tongues.

Reuters reports:

The ruling likely paves the way for the Redskins to protect trademarks covering the team’s name.

The National Football League team, which took the name Redskins in the 1930s, filed a legal challenge to a 2014 decision by a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office tribunal canceling its trademarks as disparaging to Native Americans. A lower court put the Redskins’ dispute on hold pending the outcome of the band’s case.

Lisa Blatt, a lawyer representing the Redskins, told Reuters the team is thrilled with Monday’s ruling because it resolves “the Redskins’ long-standing dispute with the government.”

 

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