Written by: Najma Ali
In a groundbreaking legal decision, the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Washington, D.C., has been awarded the trademark rights to the words “Proud Boys”, typically associated with a far-right extremist group by the same name.[1] This ruling is a historic moment for intellectual property (IP) law and social justice, illustrating how legal tools can be used to dismantle organizations that promote hate.
The dispute began with a December 2020 attack on the Metropolitan AME Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Washington, D.C. Members of the Proud Boys tore down and burned a Black Lives Matter banner as a public display of white supremacy violence.[2] The act was part of a broader pattern of far-right aggression that escalated into the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.[3]
Following the attack, the church sued the Proud Boys for damages from the destruction of the “Black Lives Matters” sign.[4] When the Proud Boys failed to respond to the lawsuit, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia issued a $2.8 million default judgment against the group.[5] However, knowing that the Proud Boys lacked financial assets to cover the damages, the church’s legal team pursued an alternative strategy—seizing the Proud Boys’ trademark.[6] On February 5, 2025, the court granted full control of the Proud Boys’ mark and branding to the church, effectively preventing the group from using its own identity for commercial or organizational purposes.[7]
Metropolitan AME Church is repurposing the Proud Boys’ brand to support social justice efforts, selling black T-shirts with gold lettering that read: “Stay Black. Stay Proud.”[8] A courageous, direct challenge to the group’s image. Greg Carr, a professor at Howard University, praised the move, calling it “repurposing” and noting, “[t]hese are small things that could be big things if they catch fire.”[9]
Historically, Black communities have been denied the protections of IP law, preventing them from securing patents, trademarks, and copyrights for their innovations and creative works.[10] In the 19th century, enslaved Black inventors were legally prohibited from holding patents, ensuring their contributions to agriculture and industry went unrecognized.[11] Likewise, Black musicians such as Scott Joplin, Billie Holiday, and Little Richard were deprived of copyright protections, robbing them of the royalties their work.[12] By securing ownership of the Proud Boys’ trademark, the Metropolitan AME Church has turned IP law into a tool for justice. This strategic legal move restricts the group’s ability to raise funds, sell merchandise, and operate under its established name, significantly hindering its influence.[13]
The Metropolitan AME Church’s victory establishes a powerful legal precedent for other communities affected by hate groups and extremist organizations. While large corporations have the resources to safeguard their IP, Black-owned businesses, churches, and nonprofits often lack the legal support or knowledge to do the same.[14] Empowering these communities with stronger legal tools and knowledge could pave the way for future IP cases that protect civil rights and combat extremism.[15]
This ruling signals a shift in legal strategies for civil rights advocacy. Trademark law can be used alongside or even in place of traditional civil rights litigation and criminal prosecutions, offering a new avenue to challenge hate groups. By leveraging existing legal structures, marginalized communities can reclaim power and use the law to their advantage. The Metropolitan AME Church’s legal victory is a reminder that justice takes many forms, and IP law can be a powerful instrument in the fight against hate and discrimination.
[1] Aimee Picchi, Proud Boys Trademark Court Ruling: Metropolitan AME Black Church Wins Rights, CBS News (Feb. 5, 2025), https://www.cbsnews.com/news/proud-boys-trademark-court-ruling-metropolitan-ame-black-church/ [https://perma.cc/6GMA-7U5L].
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Chandelis Duster, Historic Black Church Wins Trademark Rights to Proud Boys Name, NPR (Feb. 6, 2025), https://www.npr.org/2025/02/06/nx-s1-5287867/historic-black-church-trademark-proud-boys [https://perma.cc/RJ79-3SL9].
[6] Id.
[7] Picchi, supra note 1.
[8] Deborah Barfield Berry, Historic Black Church Takes on Proud Boys and Wins: “We Want to See More Victories”, USA TODAY (Feb. 14, 2025), https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/14/black-church-inspires-proud-boys-washington-dc/78492172007/ [https://perma.cc/S53L-P2NF].
[9] Id.
[10] Top Ways IP Lawyers Can Advance Social Justice, ALT LEGAL (2024), https://www.altlegal.com/blog/top-ways-ip-lawyers-can-advance-social-justice/ [https://perma.cc/5XD3-FC6W].
[11] Id.
[12] Id.
[13] Kyle Jahner, Black Church Breaks New Legal Ground Taking Over Proud Boys IP, Bloomberg L. (Feb. 5, 2025), https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/black-church-breaks-new-legal-ground-taking-over-proud-boys-ip [https://perma.cc/BHC6-UGVU].
[14] Arneda K. Perkins, African Americans and Women in the US IP Economy, 16 Cybaris 116, 128 (2024).
[15] Id. at 131.
This is amazing, I was never aware of this happening. Very informative and beautifully worded!