Legal Update: Victory for Dykes on Bikes!`

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NCLR Victory for Dykes on Bikes


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
San Francisco, CA - July 12, 2007

NCLR is thrilled to announce that we have helped to
secure a historic victory on behalf of the San Francisco
Women's Motorcycle Contingent.



Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit issued a final ruling affirming the group's
trademark of the name "DYKES ON BIKES."



"After a three year court battle, we are thrilled 'DYKES
ON BIKES' will be protected under trademark and
recognized as a celebration of our identity," said Vick
Germany, the group's president. Soni Wolf, the
group's secretary said, "This is a great victory for dyke
pride and visibility -- not just for our group, but for
lesbians across the country who value 'DYKES ON
BIKES' as an affirmation of lesbian strength and
resilience."



The Trademark Office initially rejected the group's
application for a trademark in 2004, on the ground that
the name "DYKES ON BIKES" is allegedly disparaging
to lesbians. In response, Brooke Oliver and the
National Center for Lesbian Rights submitted more
than two dozen expert declarations from scholars,
linguists, psychologists, and activists showing how
the word "dyke" has evolved to become a positive term
and that lesbians view "DYKES ON BIKES" as a
symbol of pride and empowerment.



In a decision issued December 6, 2004, the
Trademark Office reversed itself and granted the
application.



In February, 2006, an individual filed an opposition to
the trademark, alleging the name "DYKES ON BIKES"
was disparaging to men, as well as accusing group
members of misconduct toward men. In its decision
yesterday, the Court of Appeal dismissed the
opposition, holding that the name "DYKES ON BIKES"
has no negative "implications for a man."



The San Francisco Women's Motorcycle Contingent
was represented pro-bono by Brooke Oliver and Pablo
Manga of Oliver-Sabec, P.C., Gregory Gilchrist, Gia
Cincone, and Raquel Pacheco of Townsend and
Townsend and Crew LLP, and the National Center for
Lesbian Rights.

Find out more information about the
Dykes on Bikes
case
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ecklgccab.0.rk7xgccab.6jpfohbab.5813&ts=S0259&p=http%3A%2F%2Fnclrights.org%2Freleases%2Fpr-dykesonbikes071107.htm).

Find out more about
supporting NCLR
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ecklgccab.0.9hgrbmbab.6jpfohbab.5813&ts=S0259&p=http%3A%2F%2Fhttp://www.nclrights.org%2Fdonations.htm).


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