FROM THE "IF IT AIN'T TRUE IT SHOULD BE" DEPARTMENT:

COPYRIGHT YOUR NAME FOR FUN, PROFIT AND A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD:

The site Against Monopoly in Molly's list of links is devoted solely to the criticism of "intellectual property" laws. One of these is the law of copyright, and the blog master has found a truly hilarious example on the pages of the My Way news site. Being as they had lots of time on their hands, being as their place of residence was the Oklahoma El Reno federal prison, four inmates copyrighted their names with the help of a Baton Rouge lawyer. They then sued the prison administration for violation of copyright for using their names without authorization. They sent a demand letter to the warden and hired a bailiff to seize his vehicle, freeze his bank accounts and change the lock on his door. When they presumed that these actions had been carried out they sent a second letter demanding that they be let out of jail before negotiating for the release of his property. The scheme, however, fell apart because the presumed bailiff was actually an undercover FBI agent. The inmates and their lawyer are presently facing a number of charges equally creative, imaginative and fantastic as their original plan. Molly's tiny little feline mind boggles at how someone can be charged with "conspiracy" when all their actions are in an open court of law. I'm sure, however, that the Guild of Jailhouse Lawyers will consider this one as worthy of whatever they award in lieu of Academy Awards-for "best comedy"... the "golden file statue" I guess.

Against Monopoly continually brings up examples of the absurdity of ip laws, and this one deserves a comedy award for sure. Molly gives this one 3 chuckles and two guffaws.