trademark law
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Access Denied, Okurrr? Cardi B Turned Down for a Trademark on Her Signature Phrase
Cardi B may have brought the catchphrase “okurrr” into the mainstream (and even into the Super Bowl ad echelon, via Pepsi), but like Madonna and voguing, she did not originate the concept—a fact recognized by Bronx natives, members of the drag and ballroom communities, and now, by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. As reported…
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US Supreme Court Ruling on Offensive Trademarks Means Washington Redskins Will Likely Keep Their Name
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that the government cannot refuse to register a trademark because some may find the trademarked words offensive, saying that the disparagement clause of the copyright law is not an anti-discrimination clause but, rather, a “happy-talk” clause. The 39-page opinion (pdf) in Matal v. Tam ruled in favor of…