Ye’s ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirt and Trademark Law: Explained

Two radio hosts hope to use a “White Lives Matter” trademark to prevent rapper-turned-designer Ye and others from profiting off that controversial slogan by placing it on shirts and other merchandise. But US law presents numerous hurdles before that intellectual property right can be enforced.

The artist formerly known as Kanye West spawned controversy by wearing a ‘White Lives Matter’ shirt to a fashion show last month. The slogan is widely perceived as a racist rebuttal to the Black Lives Matter movement, itself a response to ongoing police killings of Black people.

If they secured a trademark, Ramses Ja and ...