Prof. Vicki Phillips Speaks on Matal v. Tam Decision
On June 20th, Professor Vicki Phillips (Professor of the Practice of Law and Director of the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic, Washington College of Law, American University) will speak on the recent Matal v. Tam decision.
The Supreme Court has ruled that part of a 1946 law prohibiting trademarks that disparage others violates the First Amendment. The case against the Lanham Trademark Act was brought by Asian American rock band The Slants, but the decision is likely to affect Washington’s football team, which lost its trademark in 2014 under the law. While some in the legal community applaud the court for upholding constitutional free speech rights, others argue the decision could open the floodgates for offensive names and that trademarks should not be protected as free speech. Kojo explores the case and its local implications.
Listen to the podcast, here.
