The American National Theatre and Academy v. the American National Theatre

The American National Theater & Academy (“ANTA”) is a non-profit organization, incorporated by an act of Congress in 1935. Pub.L. No. 74-199, 49 Stat. 457 (1935) (codified as amended at 36 U.S.C. § 21901 et seq.). Section 5 of this Act granted ANTA “the sole and exclusive right to have and to use in carrying out its purposes the name ‘The American National Theater and Academy.’ ” As currently codified, ANTA’s grant provides: “The corporation and its State and local branches and subdivisions have the exclusive right to use the name ‘The American National Theater and Academy.’ ” 36 U.S.C. §…