WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court raised doubts Wednesday about a law that bars the government from registering trademarks that are deemed offensive.
The justices heard arguments in a dispute involving an Asian-American band called the Slants that was denied a trademark because the U.S. Patent and Trademark office says the name disparages Asians.
The band says the 70-year-old law violates free speech rights. A federal appeals court ruled that the law is unconstitutional, but the government has appealed.
Justice Elena Kagan said it seemed like "a classic form of viewpoint discrimination" because the government appeared to favor positive names over those with negative connotations.