Rapist, former lawmaker Ted Klaudt claims name copyright

[existentialist]

This could almost go in the top ten conservative idiots except that where he's no longer a member of the legislature, and is a now a convicted felon serving what it, for him, most likely a life sentence, he's now such a minor conservative idiot it probably doesn't make the cut.

The short of it is he wants to be able to sue anyone using his name in print for copyright infringement. Can't have all those people saying mean and disrespectful things about him can he now?


http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_03881cae-e9a3-11de-848e-001cc4c002e0.html


Rapist, former lawmaker Ted Klaudt claims name copyright

Chet Brokaw The Associated Press | Posted: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 12:30 pm

A former South Dakota lawmaker convicted of raping his two foster daughters has sent news organizations what he claims is a copyright notice that seeks to prevent the use of his name without his consent.

A letter and an accompanying document labeled "Common Law Copyright Notice" said former state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is reserving a common-law copyright of a trade name or trademark for his name. It said no one can use his name without his consent, and anyone who does would owe him $500,000.


. . .


Laura Malone, associated general counsel for intellectual property at The Associated Press, said names of people, companies and products cannot be protected under copyright law. Names can be protected under trademark law, but only in association with goods or services used in commerce, she said.

"Even if there was a valid trademark, the mere use of the name in a news story is not an infringement of trademark," Malone said Tuesday.