Political Speech, Sue ‘Em

Sean Braisted, of the Obama campaign, is so pissy over this bumper sticker created by Blake, that he is even threatening a lawsuit pointing out that Blake could be sued. You have to love those free speech “liberals”.

16 comments:

  1. HBK, 21. July 2008, 11:11

    Another vexing display of ignorance.

    Trademark infringement is not covered as free speech.

    Hopefully he sells a bunch, the Obama campaign will own every penny.

     
  2. glendean, 21. July 2008, 11:22

    Satire, not covered? Political satire at that?

     
  3. Sean Braisted, 21. July 2008, 11:40

    Two points.

    First, don’t lie, you’re above that…I never threatened a lawsuit.

    Second, there is a difference between creating an online image that says “got socialism” with the Obama logo…and creating a bumper sticker and selling it for a profit.

    I don’t care if he does it or not, I’m not going to report it to the campaign…I just think its a bit ironic that someone claiming to stand up for capitalism doesn’t seem to respect intellectual property rights.

     
  4. glendean, 21. July 2008, 11:44

    I don’t care if he does it or not, I’m not going to report it to the campaign.

    Thanks for that. Heh.

     
  5. Sean Braisted, 21. July 2008, 11:49

    Can’t admit you’re wrong, can you?

     
  6. glendean, 21. July 2008, 12:08

    Okay, let me acknowledge what you said.

    First, don’t lie, you’re above that…I never threatened a lawsuit.

    No you didn’t. That was kind of a joke, you know. It was followed by the description of you as, “of the Obama campaign”.

    Second, there is a difference between creating an online image that says “got socialism” with the Obama logo…and creating a bumper sticker and selling it for a profit.

    I think the plaintiff would have a hard time in this case. I mean, it is satire, and it is also political satire. I disagree.

     
  7. Sean Braisted, 21. July 2008, 12:19

    Glen,

    And he is selling it for a profit, which makes it a commercial enterprise, not some journalistic endeavor.

     
  8. glendean, 21. July 2008, 12:21

    Weird Al sells the sheet music for many famous pop hits for profit too. Also, are journalistic endeavors not for profit?

     
  9. Sean Braisted, 21. July 2008, 13:03

    Heh, if you look at most newspapers around the country…no, they aren’t turning a profit.

    As for Weird Al, he alters content to parody them…Blake didn’t alter the logo at all.

     
  10. HBK, 21. July 2008, 13:11

    Not to mention that he secures permission to parody the works and pays to liscense the copyrights.

     
  11. glendean, 21. July 2008, 13:43

    HBK, no he doesn’t. Ask that Medusa headed joker that made “Gangster’s Paradise”.

     
  12. HBK, 21. July 2008, 14:39

    Actually, Weird Al does, although legally, he may not have to.

    In Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. the SCOTUS ruled that parodies can be fair use and remanded the case. The parties then settled out of court, and liscensing royalties were included, although the royalties for making a cover are modest compared to liscensing a recording.

    To the best of my knowledge, there was no litigation on “Amish Paradise”.

     
  13. glendean, 22. July 2008, 0:14

    It was pretty funny watching Weird Al’s response when he heard Medusa head say he
    “wasn’t down with that”. Dude looked scared to death.

     
  14. Police State, 26. July 2008, 2:06

    Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.EzraTaftBensonEzra Taft Benson

     
  15. NAU, 26. July 2008, 13:18

    This world is but a canvas to our imagination.HenryDavidThoreauHenry David Thoreau

     
  16. US Economics, 26. July 2008, 23:46

    There is a breed of desert men, not hiding exactly but gone to sanctuary from the sins of confusion.JohnSteinbeckJohn Steinbeck, Travels With Charley

     

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