ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Skip to main content

The U.S. Supreme Court seems likely to rule against a trademark in the 'Trump too small' case

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on July 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on July 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)
Share
WASHINGTON -

The Supreme Court signalled Wednesday that it would rule against a man who wants to trademark the suggestive phrase "Trump too small."

The dispute is over the government's decision to deny a trademark to Steve Elster, a California man seeking exclusive use of the phrase on T-shirts and potentially other merchandise. It is the latest case relating to former President Donald Trump to reach the Supreme Court, following arguments Tuesday in social media cases with echoes of Trump.

The justices repeatedly invoked the phrase as they questioned whether the government was justified in denying the trademark. Elster's lawyers argue that the decision violated his free speech rights, and a federal appeals court agreed.

Chief Justice John Roberts, positing what might happen if Elster were to win, said people then would race to trademark "Trump too this, Trump too that."

The Justice Department is supporting President Joe Biden's once and possibly future rival. Government officials said the phrase "Trump too small" could still be used, just not trademarked because Trump had not consented to its use. Indeed, "Trump too small" T-shirts already can be purchased online.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said that distinction was important because Elster is free to say and "sell as many shirts as he wants."

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, one of Trump's three Supreme Court appointees, leaned into the phrase as she wondered how the court would analyze an imaginary law denying a copyright to an author.

"Somebody wants to write a book called `Trump too small' that details Trump's pettiness over the years and just argues that he's not a fit public official," Barrett said.

Twice in the past six years, the justices have struck down provisions of federal law denying trademarks seen as scandalous or immoral in one case and disparaging in another.

The new case deals with another measure calling for a trademark request to be refused if it involves a name, portrait or signature "identifying a particular living individual" unless the person has given "written consent."

The phrase at the heart of the case is a reference to an exchange Trump had during the 2016 presidential campaign with Florida senator and GOP presidential rival Marco Rubio.

Rubio began the verbal jousting when he told supporters at a rally that Trump was always calling him "little Marco" but that Trump -- who says he is 6-feet-3-inches tall -- has disproportionately small hands. "Have you seen his hands? ... And you know what they say about men with small hands," Rubio said. "You can't trust them."

Trump then brought up the comment at a televised debate on March 3, 2016.

"Look at those hands. Are they small hands? And he referred to my hands -- if they're small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee you," he said.

The high court has considered several Trump-related cases in recent years. The justices have dealt with Trump's claims of fraud in the 2020 election and with his efforts to shield his tax records from Congress and to keep other tax records from prosecutors in New York, among other things.

The justices also could be asked to decide whether Trump can be disqualified from running for the White House again because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

A decision in Vidal v. Elster, 22-704, is expected by early summer

CTVNews.ca ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.

Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.

Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.

Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.

A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.

The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.

Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.

Local Spotlight

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

A Good Samaritan in New Brunswick has replaced a man's stolen bottle cart so he can continue to collect cans and bottles in his Moncton neighbourhood.