The office has canceled the trademark registrations of entities named Mormon Whiskey, Abort the Republicans, Democrats Shouldn’t Breed, Marriage Is For Fags, and many more. [Patent and Trademark Office] much easier and put an end to the disparagement clause.” Government officials cannot be trusted to “neutrally” identify speech that disparages. The disparagement clause empowers the Patent and Trademark Office to deny a benefit because of the viewpoint of the speech. Trademarks are not commercial speech — essentially, advertising — which is accorded less robust protection than that given to other speech. Now the office sees a national problem in provocative, naughty, childish or tasteless band names.

Source: Washington Post January 14, 2017 00:47 UTC