A former employee of the US Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO) is attempting to trademark the swastika in order to prevent it being used by racists.

Steve Maynard, who owns a company called “Snowflake Enterprises” – a reference to the pejorative term used against people offended by hate speech – has applied for the trademark.

“The swastika is a symbol that needs to be taken seriously, and not sold for $10 at a rally for everyone to have” he told the Forward.

“They would have to buy them through us, and we would charge a high rate, and if they didn’t buy them through us, we would have the right to go in and confiscate merchandise and just frustrate their purpose,” he said.

A decision by the US Supreme Court in June means that an application of this type, which would previously have been rejected out of hand by the USPTO, now has to be considered.

However, it is unclear whether Mr Maynard would have the ability to prove that there is any sort of connection between the swastika and Snowflake enterprises which would prove strong enough to justify him being granted the trademark. Such a well-known – and infamous – symbol will likely be considered much too broadly used to be applicable for trademark status.