Government tells Wayans to pick a new name

NEW YORK, March 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has twice rejected the name submitted by actor/comedian Damon Wayans for his hip-hop clothing line.

U.S. Patent officials will not let Wayans register the proposed name, "Nigga," SOHH.com reported Friday.

Although government officials declined to comment, a trademark attorney told the Web site he was not surprised by the rejection.

"There is an act by Congress that says you cannot register a word that is scandalous or that disparages a particular group," attorney Paul Fleischut said. "It doesn't look good."

Wayans' New York legal team is still trying to get the approval through, but Fleischut reiterated its chances are slim.