You are here: American University Washington College of Law Impact Initiatives Programs Pijip Events Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property

Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property

Back to top

IP at the Supreme Court Series: Vidal v. Elster 

Date: November 1, 2023 | 5:00 - 6:00pm EDT | Hybrid | YT17 | Reception to follow for in-person attendees
Registration Required

Moderated by Professor Christine Farley

American University Washington College of Law regularly invites counsel of record and counsel for selected amici to offer post-argument reflections in intellectual property (and related) cases heard by the Supreme Court. These events are held on the afternoon of oral argument before the Court. 

panelists for vidal

ISSUE

Whether the refusal to register a trademark under 15 U.S.C. § 1052(c) violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment when the mark contains criticism of a government official or public figure.

PANELISTS

  • Jonathan E. Taylor, Gupta Wessler LLP, Counsel for Respondent Steve Elster
  • Paul Alan Levy, Public Citizen Litigation Group, Amicus Curiae Brief of Public Citizen in Support of Petitioner
  • Christopher G. Michel, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, Amicus Curiae Brief of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and Manhattan Institute in Support of Respondent

ALL BRIEFS AVAILABLE ON SCOTUSblog:  Vidal v. Elster

Link to Oral Argument Transcript

Link to Event Recording

UPDATE:

Decision

Accommodation Request
If you would like to request a disability-related accommodation or accessibility information, please contact PIJIP at pijip@wcl.american.edu.   Requests should be made two weeks prior to event date.