Slants' High Court Win Opens the Gate for 'Offensive' Trademark Bids
When the Supreme Court this week gave a green light to a rock band composed of Asian-American musicians that wanted to use the name "The Slants," it struck down a portion of the 71-year-old Lanham Act that bars disparaging trademarks. That gave a major boost to the hopes of the owners of the NFL's Washington Redskins, who have already filed to establish the case as controlling precedent in their battle to reinstate their trademark, which was suspended as racially offensive toward Native Americans. But they weren't the only ones.
June 23, 2017 at 03:22 PM
8 minute read
The original version of this story was published on National Law Journal
When the U.S. Supreme Court this week gave a green light to a rock band composed of Asian-American musicians that wanted to use the name “The Slants,” it struck down a portion of the 71-year-old Lanham Act that bars disparaging trademarks.
For the owners of the NFL's Washington Redskins, it brought new hope. They have already filed to establish the case as controlling precedent in their battle to reinstate their trademark, which was suspended as racially offensive toward Native Americans.
And they aren't the only ones.
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