PROTECT Act

The PROTECT Act amends federal trademark laws to prevent private individuals and organizations from registering official government military symbols, such as awards, ribbons, and medals. Under this new rule, only government agencies are authorized to register these specific marks on the principal trademark register, while the law explicitly allows existing users to continue using them. This change aims to protect the exclusive right of the Department of Defense and other armed forces entities to control the registration of these traditional emblems without banning their current lawful use.