GoldenPalace.com Tattoos & Boxer’s First Amendment Rights.

Boxer’s First Amendment rights won out in Las Vegas today as District Court judge Valerie Vega ruled that the ban on temporary body markings implemented by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) violated boxer’s rights to free speech. The request for a preliminary injunction against the NAC, filed by GoldenPalace.com has been granted.

The Clark County District Court granted the preliminary injunction after finding no evidence that temporary body markings, including temporary tattoos, are distracting, or would be distracting to boxing judges during a bout. The judge further indicated that the NAC’s ban was a violation of the First Amendment rights of boxers and that there was no evidence that the ban would “materially advance the NAC’s asserted interest.”

The NAC’s ban on temporary tattoos and body markings was initiated when GoldenPalace.com, an online casino began placing henna tattoos of their web address on boxer’s backs during televised fights. GoldenPalace.com, pioneered this form of advertising nationwide by contracting with middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins to wear the tattoo during a bout earlier this year in New York. The NAC issued their ban last month stating that the tattoos were distracting to judges and demeaning to the sport of boxing. The matter was brought to the attention of the Clark County District Court when another boxer, Clarence “Bones” Adams had already signed a contract to wear the GoldenPalace tattoo in his HBO-televised Bantamweight title bout on February 23rd. GoldenPalace.com and Adams won a temporary restraining order two days before that fight and he was allowed to wear the tattoo.

Las Vegas attorney Paul Larsen, who represents Adams and GoldenPalace.com, said today, “Justice has been served. My clients have the right, under the First Amendment to wear any form of temporary body markings they desire in the ring. We felt we had a strong case from the beginning and today we are extremely happy to have the court validate our position.” GoldenPalace.com is equally pleased with the decision and will continue their program of tattooing their URL on boxer’s backs.

“It’s a victory for free speech, and a victory for boxers everywhere,” said Larsen. This is simply a new form of advertising. Boxers have a short career and choosing to wear these tattoos adds to their income opportunities. This is a valuable decision because the NAC’s ban violated boxer’s rights.

Now those rights are being protected.” It’s also a big victory for GoldenPalace.com that has come up with a unique way to raise awareness of their web site, and reward boxers for their participation. Boxers can average five-to-six figure payments for wearing the henna tattoos, which disappear several days after they are applied.

Paul Larsen felt the case would go his client’s way from the start and hopes that this is the end of the issue. Until now, Nevada was the only state that voted to ban this form of advertising. Larsen is hopeful that this is the final decision. “Let’s hope this is the end of the discussion on this issue and let boxers get back to what they do best.” This also opens the door for GoldenPalace.com to approach other fighters and to have their URL tattoo become part of the “fabric” of boxing in the future.

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