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'Retaliation': Brown Charges Student Newspaper With Trademark Violations After Reporter Created Website Exposing DEI Administrators
Free Beacon ^ | 5/9/25 | Matthew Xiao

Posted on 05/09/2025 3:35:04 PM PDT by CFW

Brown University has cracked down on the Brown Spectator, a right-leaning student newspaper, hitting the paper with charges of trademark violations just weeks after a Spectator board member created a website exposing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officials.

Associate Dean Kirsten Wolfe charged the Spectator with "violating Brown's 'Name Use, Trademark, and Licensing Policy' for having the word 'Brown' in the name of our independent non-profit and our website domain," Brown sophomore Alex Shieh, a reporter and board member for the Spectator, told Fox News on Thursday. On Wednesday, the board members sat for a disciplinary hearing over the charges.

"This isn't about trademarks. This is about retaliation," Shieh wrote in a post on X, calling the charges "the latest measure in [Brown's] crusade against independent student journalism." The university will make its ruling in the coming weeks, according to Fox.

"There's a reason every student newspaper in the country alludes to their school in its name without issue," Shieh wrote, noting that the university has not charged the Brown Daily Herald.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: brown; brownuniv; dei; education; retaliation; xiao
Apparently Brown University wants to make a large pay-out to Mr. Xiao. I can't believe an attorney didn't tell them they were foolish to even consider a case and it would probably result in a judgment against the university.
1 posted on 05/09/2025 3:35:04 PM PDT by CFW
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To: CFW

This is crazy.
Most student newspapers use the college logo.


2 posted on 05/09/2025 3:36:51 PM PDT by Zathras
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To: CFW

Not to mention the full, undivided attention of Trump and his staff eager to stamp out DEI.


3 posted on 05/09/2025 3:37:41 PM PDT by cross_bearer_02
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To: CFW

Perhaps their DEI attorney advised them to proceed.


4 posted on 05/09/2025 3:44:21 PM PDT by Bernard (Issue an annual budget. And Issue a federal government balance sheet. Let's see what we got.)
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To: CFW

Let the Brown Student Journalists and Editors write all the stories they want, punish ‘em by not paying ‘em, that’ll teach ‘em!


5 posted on 05/09/2025 3:45:26 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (President Trump Decisively Won Popular & E.C., Celebrate Recivilization!)
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To: CFW

“Brown University has cracked down on the Brown Spectator, a right-leaning student newspaper”

Do I have to permission from Brown University in order to note the color of my dining room table?


6 posted on 05/09/2025 3:47:25 PM PDT by BobL
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To: CFW


7 posted on 05/09/2025 3:47:32 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democrats are the Party of anger, hate and violence.)
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To: CFW

Violations of free speech of the media (school newspaper).


8 posted on 05/09/2025 3:50:51 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: CFW

The newspaper should release a statement that their publication is intended for the advancement of Brown people.

Run that through your DEI filter!


9 posted on 05/09/2025 4:08:29 PM PDT by Dr.Deth
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To: Zathras
Most student newspapers are funded, housed and ultimately controlled by the university. Is the Brown Spectator officially associated with the university or is it an independent paper written by students?
10 posted on 05/09/2025 4:08:44 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (May Rachel Zegler and Disney never know profits.)
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To: CFW

Remember when Ivy League universities were respected?


11 posted on 05/09/2025 4:14:34 PM PDT by Savage Beast (There's a Light over the Whole World. I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well. --DJT)
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To: CFW
Apparently Brown University wants to make a large pay-out to Mr. Xiao.

Even if there is no lawsuit or legal case, Brown has regardless fed the flames of their own scandal.

Do they expect to get any good result from this?

As Nassim Taleb calls them: "The Educated Yet Idiot."

12 posted on 05/09/2025 4:17:54 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I can just smell all the cats she has in her dingy studio apartment.


13 posted on 05/09/2025 4:18:53 PM PDT by Apparatchik (Русские свиньи, идите домой!)
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To: PGR88

“Even if there is no lawsuit or legal case, Brown has regardless fed the flames of their own scandal.”


This is a example of the fact that there IS such a thing as bad publicity!


14 posted on 05/09/2025 4:23:50 PM PDT by CFW
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To: CFW

This story is a complete fake. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, right leaning when it comes to Brown, the looniest of the ivy leaguers.


15 posted on 05/09/2025 4:45:19 PM PDT by Robwin ( )
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To: CFW

“Apparently Brown University wants to make a large pay-out to Mr. Xiao.”

Mr. Shieh. Alex Shieh is the Brown student.

Matthew Xiao wrote the article.


16 posted on 05/09/2025 4:46:13 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: CFW

Brown, as well as Yale, were both founded by the wealthy slave traders, for whom they are named. Their statues adorn their campuses.

Hardly anyone knows this. It would destroy the credibility of those virtue signaling elites.


17 posted on 05/09/2025 5:08:38 PM PDT by BrexitBen
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To: CFW

Mrs. BlackElk (RIP) went to Yale, and the University tried that with a conservative publication using the word “Yale”. The Yalies were crafty, though. They quickly provided a letter from the “Yale Locksmith Shop” allowing them to use the business’ name in their publication.

The conservative publication I worked on in college was at U of Chicago. Not much for them to trademark there.


18 posted on 05/09/2025 5:32:05 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: CFW

Brown U? Should be DEI U.


19 posted on 05/09/2025 6:19:35 PM PDT by Mlheureux
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To: CFW

I’m shocked that they are are still printing college newspapers. I drew political cartoons for our school newspaper back in the early 1970s.


20 posted on 05/09/2025 9:09:32 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono
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