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Matal v. Tam (2017)
The Band Who Must Not Be Named.
The latest release from Simon Tam's dance rock group is called "The Band Who Must Not Be Named" — and for good reason.
Despite making music for more than a decade, the Portland, Oregon-based band has been unable to get its name registered as a federal trademark. The battle will culminate Wednesday when four Asian-Americans who call themselves "The Slants" play a 400-seat theater known as the Supreme Court.
At issue is nothing less than freedom of speech: Does a federal law that empowers the Patent and Trademark Office to turn down applications it deems disparaging violate the First Amendment?
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