Intellectual Property & Free Speech Keynote Speaker for Legal Conferences

**The central figure in Matal v. Tam, the unanimous Supreme Court decision that redefined First Amendment rights in trademark law.** Simon Tam brings the story behind the landmark case to life for bar associations, law schools, IP conferences, and legal professionals. Entertaining. Rigorous. Unforgettable.

Teaching Matal v. Tam? Educator resources here →

“Dance rock band front man Simon Tam sought to trademark The Slants. His aim was to reappropriate a term long used to disparage a minority group and to render the term a badge of pride. All of us agreed.”

— *Ruth Bader Ginsburg*

Why Choose Simon Tam as an Intellectual Property & Free Speech Keynote Speaker

THE CASE

FROM THE TRADEMARK OFFICE TO THE SUPREME COURT
Simon Tam spent eight years fighting a government denial of his trademark application — and won, unanimously. Matal v. Tam (2017) is now a landmark First Amendment case taught in law schools across the country and cited in hundreds of subsequent rulings. Simon gives audiences an insider's view of how the case was built, what it means for IP law today, and why it still matters.
THE TALK

A KEYNOTE UNLIKE ANY OTHER CLE YOU'VE ATTENDED
Simon's presentations combine legal substance with live music and storytelling that transforms complex constitutional questions into something audiences actually feel. Approved for CLE credits. Suitable for bar associations, IP symposia, law school events, and legal conferences. Over 1,000 standing ovations across four continents — including audiences at INTA, FICPI, and the American Bar Association.
THE RELEVANCE

FIRST AMENDMENT LAW IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS
From campus speech debates to government overreach in trademark and copyright, the questions at the heart of Matal v. Tam are more alive than ever. Simon connects the history of the case to present-day legal battles, offering perspectives that are legally grounded, culturally fluent, and politically independent.

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“Simon Tam has been an evangelist for free speech and equality as mutually reinforcing rights. He has given several terrific TED talks which I highly recommend.”

— Nadine Strossen, law professor and former president of the ACLU

“Of note is Tam’s effort to register ‘The Slants’…in an effort to reclaim a piece of cultural heritage for his group and drain the slur of its ‘denigrating force.’”

— John A. Squires, Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

“Simon’s keynote was tremendous - I believe that this was the first standing ovation from a CLE presentation in over 100 years of history at FICPI!”

— Bastiaan H. Koster, South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) and past president of FICPI

Watch Simon in Action

Simon Tam – Intellectual Property & Free Speech Keynote Speaker

Simon is available for:

KEYNOTE SPEAKING | CLE-APPROVED PROGRAMS |
LAW SCHOOL VISITS | VIRTUAL EVENTS
Simon Tam is one of the most distinctive voices at the intersection of intellectual property law, First Amendment rights, and cultural identity. His programs are approved for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and have been featured at INTA, SXSW, Stanford University, and hundreds of law schools and bar associations across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Whether you're programming an IP symposium, a First Amendment conference, a law school convocation, or a bar association CLE event, Simon will leave your audience with legal insights and a story they'll be discussing long after they leave the room.

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