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Geller v. Patent and Trademark Office

Petition for certiorari denied on January 12, 2015
Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
14-175 Fed. Cir. N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2014

Issue: (1) Whether the United States Patent and Trademark Office may refuse a trademark registration for a mark because the Office understands the mark to be disparaging in violation of § 2(a) of the Trademark Act based upon the Office’s interpretation of the viewpoint of the trademark applicant’s political speech related tangentially to the subject of the mark; and (2) whether the court of appeals erred by utilizing a standard of review for the “ultimate registrability” of petitioners’ mark that (a) conflicts with the standard utilized by the majority of circuits that have addressed this issue, and (b) is both illogical in theory and muddled in practice.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Aug 11 2014Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 15, 2014)
Sep 10 2014Order extending time to file response to petition to and including October 15, 2014.
Oct 9 2014Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including November 10, 2014.
Nov 10 2014Brief of respondent Patent and Trademark Office in opposition filed.
Nov 25 2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 12, 2014.
Dec 10 2014Rescheduled.
Dec 29 2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 9, 2015.
Jan 12 2015Petition DENIED.