Ted Klaudt, 49, a Republican rancher from Walker(despicable pig)

[Bravo Zulu]

Jailed Ex-State Rep(R)Tries To Copyright Own Name, Wants $500K Per Use

If Ted Alvin Klaudt had his way, we'd owe him $500,000 for the first clause of this sentence. The former South Dakota state representative has sent a notarized letter from prison -- where he is serving time for the rape of two of his foster daughters -- notifying several news organizations of a "Common Law Copyright" on the use of his name.

Ted Klaudt, 49, a Republican rancher from Walker, faces a long list of charges: eight counts of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of witness tampering, sexual contact with a person under 16, and stalking.

Court documents mention five possible victims. Three were foster children between the ages of 15 and 19 who lived with Klaudt's family. One is a cousin of one of those girls, and the fifth is a friend of Klaudt's daughter.

In the most disturbing accusation, the girls say Klaudt had them convinced they could earn up to $20,000 by donating their eggs to a fertility clinic. And even though he has no medical training, the girls say Klaudt did all the supposed "exams" and "procedures" himself.

In case people don't remember this particularly unsavory wingnut,
http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?ID=0,57158
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/jailed_ex-state_rep_ted_alvin_klaudt_threatens_new.php?ref=fpb

[nykym]

1. From an article about the copyright

Klaudt's daughter, Roxy, confirmed that her father had sent the copyright notice but would not explain why.

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, adding, "There is no legal substance to these claims."

News agencies benefit from a fair-use exception to trademarks, Sioux Falls intellectual property lawyer Troy Leonard said.

Link:
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20091216/NEWS/912160318/1003/BUSINESS

I thought it sounded ridiculous. And isn't there a law about a convict benefiting monetarily from his crimes.