Comments on: the only politician protected by IP

By: OldMacFan

OldMacFan — Mon, 24 May 2004 02:28:56 +0000

Zeldo get a clue.

Sorry, please get a clue.

By: Zeldo The Magnificent

Zeldo The Magnificent — Sat, 22 May 2004 23:36:38 +0000

Branko -- you remind me of that old SNL skit with Jagger and Richards:

"Ahhh, Mick. Without laws, there'd be bloody ANARCHY!"

You can't get no satisfaction, and neither can Lessig, because he's a commie. He should expatriate himself to North Korea.

Zeldo.

By: Zeldo The Magnificent

Zeldo The Magnificent — Sat, 22 May 2004 23:31:03 +0000

I didn't mean Schwarzenegger, I meant Lessig.

Democracy NOW!

Zeldo.

By: Branko Collin

Branko Collin — Fri, 21 May 2004 21:31:14 +0000

If the government tells you not to say something, isn't that called censorship? What's the difference between governor Schwarzenegger saying 'you cannot sell this doll' and him saying 'you cannot print this book'?

By: OldMacFan

OldMacFan — Fri, 21 May 2004 04:19:18 +0000

So then for some of you the difference would be a commercial parody vs a non-commercial parody?

So then with a non-commercial parody if say CNN where to run a pic of my non-commercial parody, would then CNN be liable for the same offense for commercially profiting from said parody?

By: Seth Finkelstein

Seth Finkelstein — Thu, 20 May 2004 20:07:31 +0000

I think the right word is "caricature" - not "satire" or "parody".

It's a caricature doll.

Caricature of political figures certainly has a long protected history.

By: Me

Me — Thu, 20 May 2004 14:00:25 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 May 2004 13:23:17 +0000

Let's see here. Drape Arnold with a bandolier, and have him holding a machine gun. Now where have I seen that before? Hmmm.

It wasn't parody, it was clearly exploitative of the image developed by the characters he has portrayed in movies.

Put George W in a service uniform, and then you will have a parody.

By: Evan Nemerson

Evan Nemerson — Wed, 19 May 2004 17:18:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but I'd be slightly more upset about a voodoo doll than a bobble head doll... Though IMHO both should be acceptable.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 19 May 2004 16:42:34 +0000

The pols aren't refraining from the courts because the thief is right, they are refraining because they fear defending their rights in court would put them in a bad light.

I don't think a bobblehead doll of Kerry is parody, unless for example it somehow depicted him throwing away a medal, which would be clearly creative because bobbleheads are usually just standing there :) . The Arnold doll was more like an action figure, with the bandolier. And why shouldn't a politician have some limited monopoly on exploitation of their own image in order to raise money? I can picture a world where that is the only way they can raise money, but I digress.

Recognition of privacy rights for public and private people could use a little expansion.