Please join the Center for Law, Information and Creativity (CLIC) to celebrate the release of Professor Lisa Ramsey’s much-anticipated new book on trademark law and the First Amendment!
Out January 22, the book, Trademarks and Free Speech: Conflicts and Resolutions, explores how trademark laws can conflict with the right to freedom of expression and proposes a framework for evaluating free speech challenges to trademark registration and enforcement laws. It explains why granting trademark rights in informational terms, political messages, widely-used phrases, decorative product features and other language and designs with substantial communicative value can harm expression and competition. Ultimately, Ramsey proposes speech-protective and pro-competitive changes to trademark law for consideration by legislatures, courts and trademark offices in the US and beyond.
Featuring:
Lisa P. Ramsey
Professor of Law, University of San Diego School of Law
Moderator:
Alexandra J. Roberts
Professor of Law and Media, Northeastern University
Faculty Director, Center for Law, Information and Creativity (CLIC)
Feb 3, 2026
12:30 pm to 1:30 pm