The Public's Domain in Trademark Law: A First Amendment Theory of the Consumer

66 Pages Posted: 12 Jul 2009

Abstract

First Amendment theories of trademark law tend to focus on the need of speakers to employ trademarks in creating new speech — in parodies, comparative advertising, and other ccommunicative endeavors. An alternative use of the First Amendment in trademark law, however, would focus on the interests of consumers in autonomy as they make choices about how to respond to trademark meaning. First Amendment doctrine in other areas of the law involving persuasive communications provides useful material on which to draw in constructing the autonomous consumer. With that consumer more fully realized, modern expansions of trademark law, such as dilution and initial interest confusion, can be more thoroughly reconsidered and questioned.

Suggested Citation

Heymann, Laura A., The Public's Domain in Trademark Law: A First Amendment Theory of the Consumer. Georgia Law Review, Vol. 43, No. 3, 2009, William & Mary Law School Research Paper No. 09-12, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1431985

Laura A. Heymann (Contact Author)

William & Mary Law School ( email )

613 South Henry Street
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
United States

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