Trademark Registration Refused Because It Contained Disparaging Matter

In In re Geller, No. 13-1412 (Fed. Cir. May 13, 2014), the Federal Circuit affirmed the TTAB's refusal to register STOP THE ISLAMISATION OF AMERICA because the mark contained "matter which may disparage" a group of persons in violation of § 2(a) of the Lanham Act.  Slip op. at 1-2.

In 2010, Pamela Geller and Robert B. Spencer (collectively "Appellants") filed an intent-to-use application to register the mark STOP THE ISLAMISATION OF AMERICA for "[p]roviding information regarding understanding and preventing terrorism."  Id. at 2 (alteration in original) (citation omitted).  The Examining Attorney refused the mark on the ground that it may disparage American Muslims in violation of § 2(a) of the Lanham Act.  Appellants then filed an appeal, and the TTAB affirmed.