Charlie Meyer was quoted in The Indiana Lawyer article, “Say What?: Trademark Case Tests ‘Scandalous,’ ‘Immoral’ Standards.”
What’s more, the scandalous and immoral clause seemingly gives the government permission to treat some businesses differently than others based on the trademark they choose to use, said Charlie Meyer, a partner at Indianapolis IP firm Woodard, Emhardt, Henry, Reeves & Wagner, LLP. But such unequal treatment would seem to be unconstitutional, Meyer said.
“Is it the government’s job to treat people differently on this basis?” Meyer said, pointing to a question he thinks is an important issue for the justices to resolve. Further, if Tam stands for the proposition that the government cannot determine what is “disparaging,” then Meyer questioned why the government would still be allowed to decide what is scandalous or immoral.