老澳门开奖结果

WASHINGTON 鈥� The Supreme Court ruled today that a federal law banning trademark registration to names or brands that 鈥渄isparage鈥� others violates the First Amendment, and that therefore the federal government could not deny a registered trademark to the Asian-American rock band 鈥淭he Slants鈥� because the government deemed the name to be offensive.

The 老澳门开奖结果 had filed a friend-of -the-court brief supporting the band鈥檚 case, in coalition with five Asian-American community and advocacy groups. 老澳门开奖结果 attorney Lee Rowland had this reaction to today鈥檚 ruling:

鈥淭his is a major victory for the First Amendment, and establishes that the government cannot selectively grant trademarks based on its approval or disapproval of a speaker鈥檚 viewpoint. The Slants chose their name to reappropriate a racial slur used against their community, with the goal of deflating the word鈥檚 hurtful power. The government鈥檚 misguided effort to protect minorities from disparagement instead hurt members of that very community by hindering their right to compete in the marketplace of ideas. Fortunately, today鈥檚 opinion prevents the kind of absurd outcome that results when the government plays speech police.鈥�

Today鈥檚 ruling is here:
/legal-document/lee-v-tam-supreme-court-opinion