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November 06, 2006

Intellectual Property and the political agenda...

On this Election Eve, the applicability of intellectual property laws in political campaigns and political groups surfaces.  Without disclosing my political bias, I give the following two examples and ask to what extent should copyrights/trademarks be compromised for a political agenda?

• The Downwinders at Risk created an 8–foot Styrofoam float featuring the head of Texas governor, Rick Perry, sucking fumes from a smokestack.  The electric company TXU is threatening suit because the float features the company’s trademark, a blue-and-white star-burst logo. 

• Republican campaign mailers challenge Democratic opponent Charlie Brown using some familiar “Peanuts” iconic images including the Charlie Brown shirt and Lucy’s psychiatric booth.  Charles M. Schulz, the son of the “Peanuts” creator, is questioning whether the mailer infringes on the cartoon’s copyright protection.  Good grief…

Posted by Laura Wood at 02:55 PM.
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