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Justices say law on offensive trademarks is unconstitutional
WTOP News [Washington DC] ^ | June 19, 2017 10:35 am | AP

Posted on 06/19/2017 8:02:07 AM PDT by COBOL2Java

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday struck down part of a law that bans offensive trademarks in a ruling that is expected to help the Washington Redskins in their legal fight over the team name.

The justices ruled that the 71-year-old trademark law barring disparaging terms infringes free speech rights.

The ruling is a victory for the Asian-American rock band called the Slants, but the case was closely watched for the impact it would have on the separate dispute involving the Washington football team.

Slants founder Simon Tam tried to trademark the band name in 2011, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the request on the ground that it 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 ruled in 2014 that the name offends American Indians and canceled the team’s trademark. A federal appeals court in Richmond put the team’s case on hold while waiting for the Supreme Court to rule in the Slants case.

(Excerpt) Read more at wtop.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Maryland; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: lawsuit; nfl; redskins; ruling; scotus; trademarks
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1 posted on 06/19/2017 8:02:07 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
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To: COBOL2Java

Here we go Sla-ants, here we go !


2 posted on 06/19/2017 8:04:25 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true, I have no proof, but they're true.)
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To: COBOL2Java

The Supreme Fart? Oh, my.


3 posted on 06/19/2017 8:09:04 AM PDT by onedoug (KEK)
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To: COBOL2Java

YES!!!


4 posted on 06/19/2017 8:09:24 AM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca, deport all illegal aliens, abolish the IRS, DEA and ATF.)
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To: COBOL2Java
The only race that gets true "red skin" are caucasians. The other races such as Native Americans only get darker skin or a dark shade of red. So as a white man, Yo, I am offended by the name Redskin, I want my reparations, my compensations, and my persperations.


5 posted on 06/19/2017 8:10:23 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (Hillary Clinton IS a felon)
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To: COBOL2Java
The case was Matal v. Tam, the decision was unanimous, and this article is short on information.
6 posted on 06/19/2017 8:12:21 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Everywhere is freaks and hairies Dykes and fairies Tell me where is sanity?)
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To: COBOL2Java

There’s a band called the Crackers made up entirely of white people.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MESW6UDkVno


7 posted on 06/19/2017 8:12:45 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (Hillary Clinton IS a felon)
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

There’s a band called U2 made up entirely of white people, too ... but I have no idea what relevance that has to this conversation. :-P


8 posted on 06/19/2017 8:13:35 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris." -- President Trump, 6/1/2017)
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To: COBOL2Java
As far as I know, this is still the law of the land.


9 posted on 06/19/2017 8:18:18 AM PDT by Karl Spooner
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To: COBOL2Java

There is no Constitutional right to not be offended, who knew?


10 posted on 06/19/2017 8:19:29 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents - Know Islam, No Peace -No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: COBOL2Java
Does that apply to the confederate flag and monuments? Just asking.
11 posted on 06/19/2017 8:22:10 AM PDT by Know et al ( Keep on Freepin'!!!)
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To: Alberta's Child

Apparently they still haven’t found what they were looking for....


12 posted on 06/19/2017 8:32:04 AM PDT by zaxtres
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To: COBOL2Java
I think Redskins and Slants are two different issues. Slants is derogatory term attempted to be used by an Asian while Redskins is term being used by non-Indians. In PC language, cultural appropriation. Plus derogatory. While the team might get their trademark back, I don't think that issue is resolved. They should change their name.

And I spent 19 years in the DC area hearing and reading about this as it has percolated. For every Indian someone trots out as not being offended, there are others who are. No one would name a time N* so why Redskins?

13 posted on 06/19/2017 8:38:09 AM PDT by Reno89519 (Drain the Swamp is not party specific. Lyn' Ted is still a liar, Good riddance to him.)
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To: COBOL2Java

A gentle reminder of how liberals work: nothing is ever settled until it is settled the way liberals want it settled, and then it is settled. This will not make the issue go away, unless and until SCOTUS rules on this issue the way liberals want them to rule. Let us always be at the ready.


14 posted on 06/19/2017 8:38:53 AM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: Reno89519

“No one would name a time N* so why Redskins?”

Intent.


15 posted on 06/19/2017 8:41:44 AM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: COBOL2Java

BTW the vote was 8-0 but I can’t find out who did not vote.


16 posted on 06/19/2017 8:47:41 AM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: Reno89519

I hear you but who exactly gets to decide what is offensive??

Where are lines drawn? If Redskins is offensive, then based on these criteria, Boston Celtics is offensive. So is Minnesota Vikings. Both are ethnic nicknames.

We could also ask, how is it that Washington Redskins is offensive today, but was not offensive in 1950? What changed?


17 posted on 06/19/2017 8:47:46 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: COBOL2Java

I remember there being a ‘90s band by the name of Soda Pop F*ck You...

I’m not kidding. It was in a music catalog a guy at work had. Looking back on it, I wonder why that’s not hate speech. How ‘bout it, Gloria (Alred)? What’s not to like?


18 posted on 06/19/2017 8:47:49 AM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: truth_seeker

I’m sure the 0 likely forgot she’s on the SCOTUS.


19 posted on 06/19/2017 8:49:13 AM PDT by VanDeKoik
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To: Reno89519

No one cares where you lived. The problem is you’re a snowflake that’s never grown up.


20 posted on 06/19/2017 8:51:22 AM PDT by lewislynn
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