Simon Tam
First Amendment Advocate • Keynote Speaker • Author
Simon Tam is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and civil liberties advocate best known as the central figure in Matal v. Tam — a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision that redefined First Amendment protections in trademark law. Drawing on eight years of fighting the federal government, Simon speaks on free expression, democratic resilience, and what it actually costs to change the law.
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“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, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
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“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)
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“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
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“Out of all the presentations I've seen in 26 years at Willamette University, that was definitely one of the best. This story is incredibly important and inspirational."
— Peter Wogan, Professor of Global Cultural Studies
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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, NYU Law Professor and former president of the ACLU
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"This presentation of stories and songs will have you on the edge of your seat!"
— Northeastern University School of Law
“One of the most inspiring people I have ever heard speak.”
— member, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
“His compelling memoir is about keeping true to his punk rock heart and making history.”
— The Washington Post
