Tomorrow I will be on a panel called “Warning, the Following Material May Be Explicit: Addressing the Efficacy of §2(a) of the Lanham Act” as part of American University Law Review’s annual Federal Circuit Symposium. It’s being held at Arent Fox, whose web page promoting the event says:
The American University Law Review’s Volume 63 Federal Circuit Symposium will assess the Lanham Act’s section 2(a) bars to registration for immoral, scandalous, and disparaging marks. Prominent legal academics, practitioners, and a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board judge will discuss relevant cases, the provision’s varying effects, and its remaining value.
You can also register at the link and you should do that ASAP!
Obviously I will once again be discussing the Federal Circuit appeal by our client, Asian-American musical performing ensemble group The Slants, from the TTAB decision affirming the denial of a trademark registration for THE SLANTS on the ground that they are Asian-Americans.
I had the opportunity to present on this topic in Cleveland exactly a month ago. That, however, was an hour of stand-up; this is a panel, which mostly features sitting and nodding. My fellow panelists are Jim Bikoff from Silverberg, Goldman & Bikoff LLP, Professor Michael Bressman of Vanderbilt Law School and — yes, Finnegan again! — Doug Rettew of Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner. The program starts at 1:00 PM with my panel, which will last from 1:00-2:30.
The second panel features my friend Professor Christine Farley from American, TTAB Judge Linda Kuczma, and Professor Sarah Hinchliffe, visiting professor at William and Mary Law School. Arent Fox’s resident rock star, Pamela Deese, will act in all things as moderator.
As interesting as that is, my real point is that you are not exempt from attending this event just because you think you already heard “this” in Cleveland.
