A bill to amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to prohibit a private entity from registering a trademark that is used by the United States Government for the purposes of Department of Defense or Armed Forces awards, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · June 24, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The PROTECT Act amends federal trademark law to prevent private companies and organizations from registering trademarks that the Department of Defense or Armed Forces use for military awards, decorations, ribbons, and medals. The law only allows government agencies and departments to register and control these official military emblems as trademarks. However, the legislation includes a grandfather clause allowing individuals and organizations that were already using these marks before the law's enactment to continue their existing use, though they cannot register new trademark rights to these symbols going forward. This bill essentially protects the government's exclusive rights to its traditional military insignia and honors while preventing commercial exploitation of these symbols. The legislation contains no specific funding requirements or implementation timelines beyond its effective date upon enactment.
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