Denise Howell
1,574 Added | 13 Magazines | 160 Likes | 49 Following | 540 Followers | @dhowell | denisehowell.info
It's not the government's job to say if 'Slants' is too offensive. Or 'Redskins'
In a reassuringly sweeping decision, the Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal law prohibiting the registration of trademarks that may disparage individuals, institutions, beliefs or national symbols, or “bring them into contempt or disrepute.”<p>The 8-0 ruling was a victory for the Slants, an …
First AmendmentThe case for restricting hate speech
As a sociologist and legal scholar, I struggle to explain the boundaries of free speech to undergraduates. Despite the 1st Amendment—I tell my students—local, state, and federal laws limit all kinds of speech. We regulate advertising, obscenity, slander, libel, and inciting lawless action to name …
Hate SpeechRedskins are 'thrilled' by Supreme Court decision striking down law banning offensive trademarks
The Washington Redskins got some good news Monday morning when the Supreme Court ruled that an Asian American band can call itself The Slants, even though the name might offend some people.<p>That appears to mean that the Redskins also will be able to continue using their name, even though it offends …
Lonzo BallSupreme Court Rejects Expansion of Government-Speech Doctrine In Tam Case
The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in <i>Matal v. Tam</i> striking down the trademark non-disparagement requirement as unconstitutional is a big victory …
LawShould We Be Able to Reclaim a Racist Insult — as a Registered Trademark?
In late 2009, Simon Tam’s Portland-based dance-rock band was doing well — going on tours, getting press. It was time, they decided, to start taking things more seriously and file a trademark application for their name: the Slants.<p>Tam’s lawyer, Spencer Trowbridge, agreed to handle the paperwork for …
LawWhy the Slants Took a Fight Over Their Band Name to the Supreme Court
On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that a law denying federal trademark protection to names that are deemed disparaging is unconstitutional. “It offends a bedrock First Amendment principle: Speech may not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in …
ACLUThe Slants on the Power of Repurposing a Slur
My first real lesson on the power of language was at the age of 11.<p>On the basketball courts at school in San Diego, I was tormented by other students. They’d throw balls, punches, rocks and insults, while yelling “gook” and “Jap.” One day, I had enough. I threw back, “I’m a chink, get it …
RacismSymposium: Most important free speech case in many years
<i>Hugh C. Hansen is a professor of law at Fordham University School of Law. He is the founder and director of the Fordham Conference on IP Law and</i> …
CensorshipFair Use on The Loose For The Great Dr. Seuss!
You may remember, you may recall,<br>A certain infringement suit filed last fall.<br>It was filed by the heirs of the great Dr. Seuss,<br>And now they’ve run …
Fair UseCan I sell songs I make using Launchpad for iOS?
<b>This applies to the Launchpad App, as well as the Free Loopmasters Sample Pack</b><p>All the samples included in the Launchpad app are either 'Loopmasters' …
Sea lion learns to take selfies at Aquarium of the Pacific
A sea lion at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is joining the selfie trend.<p>Volunteer Hugh Ryono started teaching Milo to use a selfie stick about a year ago.<p>"I just thought it would be neat to see a swimming sea lion from the same selfie stick perspective that surfers and other action …
OceansThe Right to Discriminate Against Yourself - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
watch full episode<p>The Daily Show with Trevor Noah<p>The Right to Discriminate Against Yourself<p>Clip6/20/2017<p>Ronny Chieng finds out why Asian-American …
HumorRedskins throw serious shade at The Slants’ counsel in new cert petition
(Reuters) –On Monday, the National Football League’s Washington Redskins asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the cancellation of several of the team’s long-held trademarks for violating the Lanham Act’s non-disparagement clause. One of the team’s arguments is that if the justices plan to …
U.S. Supreme CourtThought Crimes: Science Fiction Fantasy or Potential Reality?
<b>By Terri L. Wilkin</b> <i><br>Program Director for</i> <i>Legal Studies</i><i>, APUS</i><p>In the 2002 science fiction film “Minority Report,” police arrest individuals before they …
CrimeFCC Set to Ban Inflight Calls for Good
If current practice is any indication, cellphone calls aboard U.S. flights might as well be banned. Technically, that’s not currently the case. But …
AirlinesThe FCC is reversing its proposal to allow cellphone use on planes
Federal regulators are withdrawing a proposal that would have allowed air travelers to use their cellphones at high altitude.<p>The proposal — introduced in 2013 by then-chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler — sought to roll back a long-standing regulation that banned the use …
Ajit PaiWi-Fi calls on planes OK? Answer is loud and clear: No
WASHINGTON — The Transportation Department has received more than 7,000 comments, often punctuated with capital letters and exclamation points, that almost universally urge a ban against Wi-Fi calls on planes.<p>The comments thundered against the prospect of voice calls that are possible through …
Wi-FiHere’s How Facebook Knows Who You Meet In Real Life
Here’s How Facebook Knows Who You Meet In Real LifeIt may seem like Mark Zuckerburg is personally tracking your every move — but there's another …
The Persuaders
Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers.<p>FRONTLINE takes an in-depth look at the multibillion-dollar "persuasion …
Public RelationsMan fined by Swiss court for 'liking' defamatory comments on Facebook
Defendant had accused animal rights activist of racism and ‘liked’ inflammatory comments about him<p>A Swiss court has fined a man for “liking” defamatory comments on Facebook, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind.<p>According to a statement from the Zurich district court, the 45-year-old …
Animal WelfareAmazon granted a patent that prevents in-store shoppers from online price checking
Well, isn’t that ironic<p>Amazon’s long been a go-to for people to online price compare while shopping at brick-and-mortars. Now, a new patent granted to the company could prevent people from doing just that inside Amazon’s own stores.<p>The patent, titled “Physical Store Online Shopping Control,” …
PatentsDisney Accused of Stealing 'Inside Out' Concept in New Lawsuit
A childhood development expert says the studio based the mega-hit 'Inside Out' on her idea, but didn't give her credit or compensation.<p><i>Inside Out</i>'s …
Walt Disney CompanyWaymo v. Uber: a Gordian Knot Gets Tighter - IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Patent Law
In the annals of U.S. innovators, there are many infamous disputes between technology companies from Shockley and Fairchild in semiconductors to …
Intellectual Property