by Bob Walsh
Acting Monday SCOTUS ruled that the patent office can NOT refuse to issue a trademark merely because somebody might find the trademark to be offensive. The original lawsuit was filed by an Asian-American rock band called THE SLANTS. The unanimous ruling will have a broad impact elsewhere, including the Washington Redskins football team.
Simon Tam tried to trademark the band name in 2011, but the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office refused. The office also cancelled the Washington Redskins trademark in 2014, asserting they could do so as it was offensive to native Americans.
The trademark office has been remarkably inconsistent in their past administrative rulings, stating that DAGO SWAG clothing was OK, as was BAKED BY A NEGRO bakery products.
I guess that means I can go ahead with my new logo for my church, THE UNRECONSTRUCTED AND UNREPENTANT INTERNATIONAL CHURCH OF MOHAMMED SUCKS DONKEY DICK. The G was giving me some shit about that.
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