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Commercial Speech Free Speech Constitutional Challenges

Goodwin

State Statute Prohibiting Surcharges on Credit Card Purchases Held Unconstitutional

Goodwin on

On February 25, 2021, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas issued an opinion granting summary judgment in favor of CardX, LLC (CardX), and found unconstitutional “a Kansas law that prohibits sellers...more

Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

Unprecedented: COVID-19 Litigation Trends - Issue 6

This sixth edition of Unprecedented, our weekly update on COVID-19 litigation, sees us reporting on many of the same types of cases. Consumers continue to seek refunds for goods and services that have been disrupted by the...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Beer Businesses Strike State Law Showing it Unconstitutionally Interferes with Their Commercial Free Speech Rights

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a District Court’s decision to strike down a state law that placed severe restrictions on alcohol advertising. For example, under the law, Joe’s Bar could run the ad, “Drink...more

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

TCPA First Amendment Argument Could Eliminate Government Debt Collection Exemption

First Amendment challenges to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) are in the midst of a revival. The TCPA makes it unlawful to call or text a cell phone using an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) or...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

NY Court of Appeals issues interpretation of NY “no credit card surcharge” law

Ballard Spahr LLP on

The New York Court of Appeals has issued an opinion in Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman interpreting the state’s law that prohibits merchants from imposing a surcharge on credit card purchases (Section 518 of the...more

Womble Bond Dickinson

First-In-the-Nation-Result: District Court Stays TCPA Case Pending Outcome of Ninth Circuit First Amendment Challenge

Womble Bond Dickinson on

Now we’re talking! As I’ve written on multiple occasions, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) is the broadest restriction on constitutionally protected speech in our nation’s history. Worse still, the statute is...more

Mintz - Trademark & Copyright Viewpoints

After the Supreme Court Touchdown, Washington Redskins Are Finally Winning at the Fourth Circuit and the PTO

Two incredible things happened in 1992 for the NFL football team Washington Redskins. It won the Super Bowl and applied to register a trademark Washington Redskins. It has not been so lucky ever since. It has not won another...more

Knobbe Martens

In Re: Erik Brunetti

Knobbe Martens on

Federal Circuit Summaries - Before Dyk, Moore, and Stoll. Appeal from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Summary: The bar in § 2(a) of the Lanham Act against registering immoral or scandalous trademarks is an...more

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Federal Circuit Strikes Down Statute Banning Scandalous and Immoral Trademarks

• The Federal Circuit held that the “immoral or scandalous” clause of Lanham Act § 2(a), which prohibits registration of a trademark that “consists of or comprises immoral or scandalous matter,” is unconstitutional under the...more

CMCP - California Minority Counsel Program

In Matal V. Tam, Scotus Rules Prohibition On Disparaging Trademarks Unconstitutional

The Asian American members of the band the Slants adopted that name to “reclaim” and “take ownership” of the derogatory term. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) refused to register a trademark application...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Making Your Mark

Of Slants, Skins, And Signs: Section 2(a) Prohibition of Disparaging Trademark Registrations Struck Down!

Well, that happened! According to the Supreme Court’s opinion in Matal v. Tam, Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act, which purports to prohibit the registration of marks that “disparage . . . persons,” is unconstitutional. ...more

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

Supreme Court Holds that First Amendment Protects Disparaging Trademarks

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC on

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court emphasized the importance of broad free speech protection in striking down a statute that allows the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to refuse registration of disparaging trademarks....more

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