--- From: "Robert Helmer" <roberthelmerat_private> To: <declanat_private> Subject: Copyrighted name? Correction.... Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 10:55:50 -0500 Declan, what follows are the first few paragraphs from (and a link to) a story that appeared in the St. Louis Post Dispatch today concerning a defendant in a criminal case who claims to own property rights in his name, and has been attempting to charge others, including the court, $500,000 per use. This might be a lighthearted amusement for your list audience. After all, in light of other copyright - patent issues we've seen recently, it's almost plausible..... Bob Helmer Daily Rotation <http://www.dailyrotation.com>http://www.dailyrotation.com Shell Extension City <http://www.shellcity.net>http://www.shellcity.net St. Louis, Missouri Judge finds man is fit for trial in drug, gun case A drug case defendant who is billing authorities $500,000 every time they speak or write his name may be using unusual legal tactics but he is not mentally impaired, a federal judge ruled Monday in East St. Louis. That means Frederick James, 43, of Washington Park, will stand trial and can represent himself against marijuana dealing and weapons charges. Since he was arrested in January, James -- who claims he copyrighted Frederick James -- tabulated that judges and his own public defender have used his name 302 times in court proceedings. So he sent a bill to U.S. District Judge Michael J. Reagan for $151 million. "Do you not think it's bizarre that you charge people to use your name?" Reagan asked in a hearing Monday. "It's my private property," James replied. Officials at the U.S. Copyright Office said the agency does not allow names to be legally protected from other's use, only property that has some sort of artistic value. http://home.post-dispatch.com/channel/pdweb.nsf/TodayTuesday/86256A0E0068FE5086256BB9003B485D?OpenDocument&PubWrapper=Metro ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sign this pro-therapeutic cloning petition: http://www.franklinsociety.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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