washington supreme court justices walk tightrope wednesday government approval offensive trademark express concern endorse racial slur brand slogans also worry protect positive word eight justices hear arguments case involve portland oregon-based asian-american dance-rock band call slant deny trademark name government deem offensive people asian descent band challenge rejection violate free speech right case one closely watch court current term could impact another high-profile dispute government cancellation trademark washington redskins national football league disparage native americans band attorney john connell tell justices government use trademark law impose burden free speech protect listeners offense suggestion politeness statute connell tell justices obama administration appeal low court agree band part 1946 law govern federal trademark bar may disparage certain people run afoul u.s. constitution guarantee free speech justice sonia sotomayor say one stop band call advertise slant ask government endorse name way government choose sotomayor say band legal dispute begin u.s. patent trademark office refuse grant trademark protection slant name 2013. consider racial slur refer asian people eye court rule could set parameters trademark registration help protect product company name commercial slogans court block import sale counterfeit goods justice anthony kennedy ask band attorney john connell whether group non-asians use name slant mock asians could deny trademark connell say could kennedy question whether trademark system consider like public park say anything want justices seem agree band government favor trademark disapprove others kind discrimination base viewpoint traditionally forbid first amendment justice elena kagan say government grant trademark positive message like politicians virtuous negative ones like politicians corrupt would fairly classic case viewpoint discrimination reject slant trademark government register potentially offensive trademark bake negro bake goods retardipedia boob beer holders adult videos accord court paper justices appear struggle whether ban offensive slur reasonable trademark system use promote commerce identify products come slant frontman simon tam appeal government trademark rejection say name choose way reclaim term wear badge pride u.s. court appeal federal circuit washington rule 2015 disparagement provision 1946 lanham act unconstitutional government require approve trademark contain crude reference women base part anatomy repellent racial slur white-supremacist slogans demean illustrations prophet mohammed religious figure obama administration say write brief supreme court several justices wonder avoid problems slander libel offensive trademark never reject refer president-elect donald trump sotomayor offer example someone trademark word trump thief even court consider slander trademark could still use would protect first amendment say make sense sotomayor say justice stephen breyer say trademark law mean provoke people arguments officially register insult slur would decision expect end june separate redskins case trademark board 2014 cancel team six trademark request native american activists ground team name disparage native americans team appeal also free speech ground hold 4th circuit court appeal richmond virginia pending outcome slant case case supreme court unite state michelle k. lee v. simon shiao tam 15-1293. u.s. supreme court justices fret offensive trademark