Lisa P. Ramsey

Lisa P. Ramsey is a Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law, where she teaches Trademark Law, International Intellectual Property, Civil Procedure, Trademark Litigation, Intellectual Property Survey, and Intellectual Property Seminar. She joined the USD law faculty in 2004, progressing from Assistant Professor (2004-2006) to Associate Professor (2006-2009) and then to full Professor (2009-present).

Professor Ramsey's research focuses on the intersection of trademark law and free speech rights, examining how trademark protection can conflict with First Amendment protections. Her scholarship addresses potential conflicts between trademark laws and free expression, explaining how trademark protection of certain inherently valuable words, symbols, and product features can harm fair competition and freedom of expression. She has written extensively on non-traditional trademarks, the impact of Supreme Court decisions like Matal v. Tam on trademark registration, and the application of First Amendment principles to trademark enforcement.

Her publications reveal a consistent focus on balancing trademark rights with free expression, with particular attention to how trademark law affects artistic expression, political speech, and competition. Recent work examines the implications of the Supreme Court's decisions in cases like Jack Daniel's v. VIP Products and Vidal v. Elster for trademark enforcement and registration.

• Thorsnes Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship (2020-2021)
• Class of 1975 Endowed Professorship (2017-2018)
• Order of the Coif
• Women of Influence in Law 2025 Honoree (San Diego Business Journal)

Professor Ramsey actively participates in professional organizations, serving on the Trademark Law Committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and contributing to the International Trademark Association's Model Trademark Law Guidelines. She has testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Intellectual Property Subcommittee regarding the First Amendment implications of the proposed No FAKES Act. Her upcoming book, 'Trademarks and Free Speech: Conflicts and Resolutions,' is scheduled for publication by Cambridge University Press in December 2025.