In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Lanham Act’s Section 2(a) prohibition on federal registration of “immoral or scandalous” trademarks violates the free speech protections of the First Amendment. Our panel will discuss the decision in detail, review prior cases regarding Lanham Act Section 2(a) (including Matal v. Tam), assess implications for businesses using such marks in commerce, and opine on possible legislative revisions in the wake of this landmark ruling.
Douglas Mirell
, Greenberg Glusker
Paul Bost
, Sheppard Mullin
Rachel Santori
, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Vera Golosker
, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer