Intellectual property litigator Terence Ross and Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Litigation Analyst Jennifer Rie discuss the Supreme Court oral arguments over trademarking 'Trump Too Small', and the US government's attempt to stop the merger of JetBlue and Spirit Airlines on antitrust grounds.
Trademark law focuses on source identification and preventing consumer confusion, not on freedom of speech.
The Supreme Court is likely to uphold the denial of the 'Trump 2 small' trademark, which will have broader implications for trademark law and free speech.
Deep dives
US Supreme Court arguments on trademark law
During oral arguments, justices suggested that denying a trademark for a phrase does not violate free speech rights. The court emphasized that trademark law is not about expression, but rather about source identification and preventing consumer confusion. Justices were also concerned that granting a trademark would restrict the speech of others. The case revolves around trademark registration by Joshua Elster for the phrase 'Trump 2 small,' which had been denied by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Background and arguments of the 'Trump 2 small' trademark case
Joshua Elster was denied trademark registration for the phrase 'Trump 2 small' by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Federal Circuit initially reversed this decision on constitutional grounds, leading the case to go to the Supreme Court. The debate revolves around whether the denial of the trademark infringes on Elster's free speech rights or if it is a legitimate government regulation to prevent confusion and protect other speech. The court's majority appears skeptical of granting registration for the trademark.
Trademark benefits and limitations
Trademark registration offers protection by preventing others from using the same identifier for similar goods or services. Elster's argument is that by denying him registration, the government is burdening his protected speech. However, the court and trademark law experts argue that the denial simply means he does not receive the benefits of registration, such as the ability to exclude others from using his slogan. The court also highlighted the historical background of trademark protection and its consistent application.
Likely outcome and potential impact
Based on the oral arguments, the Supreme Court is likely to reverse the Federal Circuit's decision and uphold the denial of the 'Trump 2 small' trademark. Justices across the ideological spectrum expressed skepticism towards granting the registration. The court's decision will likely have a broader impact on trademark law, clarifying the limits of free speech within the context of trademark registration.
Intellectual property litigator Terence Ross, a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman, discusses Supreme Court oral arguments over trademarking the phrase “Trump Too Small.” Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Litigation Analyst Jennifer Rie discusses the US government trying to block Jet Blue from buying Spirit Airlines. June Grasso hosts.