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HR 684 114th Congress House

Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2015

Official title: To amend the Trademark Act of 1946 regarding the disparagement of Native American persons or peoples through marks that use the term "redskin", and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 3, 2015 See on congress.gov
Native Americans Intellectual propertyLicensing and registrationsProfessional sportsRacial and ethnic relations
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 17, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
Feb 3, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 3, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 17, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2015

Amends the Trademark Act of 1946 to conclusively presume that a mark that uses the term "redskin" or any derivation of that term consists of matter which may disparage persons if: (1) it has been, is, or is intended to be used in commerce in connection with references to or images of Native Americans; or (2) the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) determines that the term as included in the mark is commonly understood to refer to Native Americans. (The possibility that a mark disparages persons is grounds for refusing its registration.)

Requires the USPTO to cancel the registration of a mark containing the term "redskin" or any derivation of that term if: (1) it has been or is used in commerce in connection with references to or images of Native Americans, or (2) the USPTO determines that the term as included in the mark is commonly understood to refer to Native Americans.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 12
All 12 Democratic 12
D
Chu, Judy
California · Feb 24, 2015
 D
Huffman, Jared
California · Feb 4, 2015
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Feb 4, 2015
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Feb 3, 2015
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Feb 3, 2015
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Feb 3, 2015
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Feb 3, 2015
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Feb 3, 2015
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 3, 2015
 D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Feb 3, 2015
 D
Takano, Mark
California · Feb 3, 2015
 D
Vargas, Juan
California · Feb 3, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 684: Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-684/
MLA
"H.R. 684: Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-684/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 684, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-684/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 684: Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-684/)
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