U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Justices Say Government Can’t Refuse Disparaging Trademarks

The Supreme Court says the government can’t refuse to register trademarks that are considered offensive. The ruling Monday is a win for an Asian-American rock band called the Slants and it gives a major boost to the Washington Redskins in a separate legal fight over the team name. The justices said part of a law that bars the government from…

High Court Upholds Process for Challenging Patents

The Supreme Court has upheld the process for challenging invalid patents, making it easier for companies to fight so-called patent trolls. The justices ruled unanimously on Monday to uphold the legal standard used to invalidate patents by a new appeals board at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Congress created the board in 2011 over concerns federal officials were issuing…