Katherine Griffis-Greenberg Wrote:
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> fmetrol Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Copyright gone mad
>
>
> >
> > Can you copyright the planet?
>
> Probably unenforceable, as I understand that
> artefacts and ancient monuments are not, per se,
> open to copyright.
>
> They may only be open to copyright to those who
> created them, and by even the most liberal
> interpretation of the 1971 Berne Convention law on
> copyright, the rights of these copyright holders
> have long since expired (as have the copyright
> holders).
>
> This effort strikes me as silly as when Donald
> Trump tried to copright/trademark the phrase,
> "You're fired" some years ago. No court would
> allow it, and Trump was seen as a silly twit for
> even thinking about it. Similarly, Fox News was
> laughed out of court for trying to copyright the
> phrase "fair and balanced." In both cases, the
> courts noted that such phrases are part of the
> normal usage of language, which can't be
> copyrighted.
>
> I could see similar arguments being made that no
> one country can hold "copyright" to
> monuments/artefacts for which they have no direct
> claim to creation, and that such imagery is part
> of the normal architectural expression. After
> all, didn't the Aztecs and other New World
> population have pyramids too? Are you going to
> charge them with "copyright violation"? Where
> does this end?
>
> At the very worse, all Hawass is doing to by
> attempting to limit reproduction of monuments is
> creating the same problem the State of Kentucky
> created when it claimed that any use of the word
> "Kentucky" required royalties to be paid to the
> State, who held "copyright" to its usage.
>
> Hence, Kentucky Fried Chicken became "KFC" - and
> just when was the last time YOU heard "Kentucky
> Woman"
[
www.youtube.com]
or "My Old Kentucky Home" played publicly
[
www.youtube.com]
> since they passed that law some years ago?
> Rather than pay the "copryight" royalties, these
> items have now fallen into disuse and will
> eventually be forgotten.
>
> Is that what Hawass really wants by creating such
> a law?
>
> I wonder.
>
> Katherine Griffis-Greenberg, J. D.
>
> =================
> DISCLAIMER:
>
> Not a practicing attorney, and no attorney-client
> relationship is created. This response is for
> discussion purposes only. It isn't meant to be
> legal advice. If you wish legal advice, seek out
> an attorney in your own state who is familiar with
> your state's laws and applications thereof.
>
