{"argument_date":"2017-01-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-01-18T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","paragraphs":["Malcolm Stewart argued the statute prohibits registering marks that disparage persons or institutions.","The government argued the provision helps further the purpose of trademark protection by preventing disparagement.","Justice Breyer questioned how the disparagement provision relates to the core purpose of identifying product sources."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 6-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 22-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 22-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 42-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 36-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-10"}]}],"caption":"Lee v. Tam","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.917799Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the government can deny trademark registration based on its subjective view of a mark's message.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 22-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 22-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-46"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-01-18T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/15-1293.html","primary_docket":"15-1293","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:45:54.229248Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court examines the constitutionality of a federal law that bars registration of trademarks deemed disparaging."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 22-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 22-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-46"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 18, 2017."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Simon Tam wants the court to strike down the law that blocked his trademark registration.","The government wants the court to uphold the law that allows it to reject offensive trademarks."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 22-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 22-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-46"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Tam argues the government cannot deny registration based on its own subjective judgment of a mark's meaning.","The government argues the provision serves a valid purpose by preventing the registration of marks that insult others."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 22-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 22-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-46"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kagan asked why the government's refusal to register a mark is not a viewpoint-based distinction.","Justice Kennedy asked whether copyright law constitutes a government program subject to these constraints."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 6-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 42-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 36-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-10"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether the government can censor commercial speech by refusing to register trademarks it finds offensive."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 22-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 22-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-46"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 6-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 42-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 36-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-10"}]}],"slug":"2016-15-1293-lee-v-tam","term":"2016","title":"Does the government violate free speech by refusing to register trademarks it finds offensive?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 22-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 22-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1293_o7jp.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-46"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}