Readers React: Why the feds shouldn’t have to enforce a ‘Redskins’ trademark

To the editor: As the linguistics expert for the petitioners in the current “Redskins” trademark cancellation case, I was disappointed to read of The Times’ opposition to government action on this issue. (“‘Redskins’ issue isn’t a matter for the government,” editorial, Nov. 13)

Bear in mind that a trademark registration ensures government protection for a restriction on the speech of other parties, who can’t use the term in trade. As such it isn’t unreasonable to ask that it shouldn’t be detrimental to the public welfare.

You have every right to produce a T-shirt that says “Gas the Kikes,” but you don’t have a right to insist that the government expend resources to enforce it — for example, by having customs officers impound pirated copies of it on your behalf.

Geoffrey Nunberg, Berkeley

The writer is a professor in UC Berkeley’s School of Information.

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