S.Amdt. 5851

SA 5851, also known as the PROTECT Act (Preservation of Rights and Ownership of Traditional Emblems, Crests, and Tributes Act), aims to change the Trademark Act of 1946.

The purpose of this amendment is to add the following to the law:

• It prevents the registration of marks that are authorized, issued, or controlled by the Government for Department of Defense or Armed Forces awards, decorations, campaign and service ribbons, or medals.
• It allows these marks to be registered if the government agency or department that controls the official use of the mark decides to do so.
• It allows any person or entity, including nonprofit organizations, to continue using such marks if they were using them lawfully before the act was enacted.
• It prevents any person or entity other than the described government agency or department from registering such marks on the principal register after the date of enactment.