Feds Call Band Name Racist, Refuse Trademark

Friday, 25 March 2011 | by Pat's Picks

A Portland band is fighting to clear its name, literally. The Slants, an Asian-American rock group with a growing following, decided the time had come to trademark their band name. So they filed paperwork with the government’s patent office to do so says the Oregonian. Except, the patent office turned down their request, saying the band name is racist. According to Section 2(a) of the 1946 Trademark Act: A trademark can be rejected if it “consists of or comprises immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter; or matter which may disparage ...” The paper points out several other questionable names—Washington Redskins, NWA—that have been OKed by the government. Band members say the ruling is particularly ridiculous because they are all Asian-American, as is most of their fan base.

Below is a video of the Slant’s “How the Wicked Live”: