Martin Luther King Jr's Children In Court Over MLK IP

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Martin Luther King Jr's Children In Court Over MLK IP

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday September 4, 2013 @06:45AM from the i-have-a-sad-depressing-dream dept.

cervesaebraciator writes "Slashdot has reported before about the copyright nightmare of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' Speech. Now, questions of intellectual property and the legacy of Dr. King have caused his children to go to court. The estate, run by King's sons, claims the rights to the intellectual property and memorabilia of Dr. King as assets. Accordingly, it has filed suit against the non-profit Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Change, run by King's daughter, for plans to continue using King memorabilia once a royalty-free licensing agreement expires, (which the estate says will be in September). As is the case with increasing frequency, one is left to wonder about the implications intellectual property claims have for free speech when they can be applied to so public a figure as Dr. King."

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End of a Dream by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-04 06:48 · Score: 5, Funny

MLK's legacy capitalizing on MLK's legacy.
Go for it kids!
1. Re:End of a Dream by meerling · 2013-09-04 07:02 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  As far as I'm concerned (ianal), the "I have a dream" speech was a historical, public, and defining of an important part of our society. It can't be copyrighted. Any lowlife trying to capitalize on that should be thrown in jail.
2. Re:End of a Dream by AlphaWolf_HK · 2013-09-04 07:04 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  MLK's legacy has largely been decimated by those who claim to support him the most.
  One of his most famous sayings was that he had a dream that his four children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
  People like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who are now seen as civil rights leaders, basically threw that out completely.and shit on it at almost every turn. Groups like the NAACP are pushing for criminal prosecution of, for example, the rodeo clown who made fun of Obama, even though people in much bigger areas of the limelight have done much worse things to make fun of other presidents. George Zimmerman would never have seen prosecution if he was black or Trayvon was white; guilty or not the evidence just wasn't there which is why they originally chose not to prosecute, and only did so after pressure from racial groups, which goes to show that in America, now the only requirement for prosecution is that public opinion be against you regardless of whether or not you can be proven guilty.
  And how are programs like affirmative action following in that spirit? They tell you that, for example, if you have slanted eyes then you immediately deserve lower preference than anybody, but if you have black skin then you automatically get to be first in line.
  What a joke the civil rights movement has become.
  
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3. Re:End of a Dream by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-04 07:23 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  That the is whole idea behind the royalty-free organization that is going to court. They still own it. The summary sounds like a conflict of interest between siblings. The one that runs the organization to promote Reverend King's ideals, and the other siblings that want to cash in on the property. Am I understanding this correctly?
4. Re:End of a Dream by TWiTfan · 2013-09-04 07:34 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  he had a dream that his four children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
  In that case, they've been judged a bunch of selfish, greedy pricks.
  
  --
  The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
5. Re:End of a Dream by Synerg1y · 2013-09-04 07:36 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Prison and jail ethnic population statistics answer that question unceremoniously. You have a huge advantage and the benefit of the doubt in the legal system just by being white. I'll also mention for like billionth time: ZIMMERMAN ISNT OR WILL BE WHITE... fuck cnn.
6. Re:End of a Dream by mcmonkey · 2013-09-04 07:38 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  "Does anyone else ever notice the color of Mickey?"
  Did you ever notice that Mickey has a peer, Goofy, who's a dog. He also has what's obviously a slave dog - Pluto.
  Obviously Pluto is the field dog. Goofy is the house dog.
7. Re:End of a Dream by Arker · 2013-09-04 07:39 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  You can shoot someone that jumps out of the shadows and starts beating your head in. That's actually legal virtually everywhere, including all over Europe. In most of Europe, it's very difficult for an individual citizen to legally carry the weapon to begin with, of course, but the right to self defense is hardly a US invention.
  
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8. Re:End of a Dream by Nerdfest · 2013-09-04 07:51 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  The way to eliminate racism is not by perpetuating it.
9. Re:End of a Dream by Petron · 2013-09-04 08:01 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  George Zimmerman would never have seen prosecution if he was black or Trayvon was white; guilty or not the evidence just wasn't there.
  What kind of crack are you smoking? 1. He followed Trayvon -- he was the one doing the assaulting....
  Following ! = assaulting.
  He was on the phone with 911 when he was asked where the suspicious person (person pacing in front of a house). George got out to look. The 911 operator (not a cop) told him he didn't have to look for him, and George said "Ok" and stopped looking. He went across the residential block to get an address, turned back and started to go back to his truck. At that point 911 closed the call.
  Trayvon was on the phone too, to his friend Dee-Dee. She stated he made it all the way back to the back yard of the house he was staying at. He then decided to *GO BACK* and confront George, Dee-Dee lost contact when she said she heard a fight break out. We have a timestamp when the call ended.
  From when George told the 911 operator he lost sight of Trayvon, to the point when the fight broke out, was 4 minutes. The house Trayvon was staying at was less than 100 yards away. Four minutes was more than enough time to get back home. It is enough time to head home, then decide to head back... And based on Trayvon's social media, he was one to pick a fight with people. This is based on evidence.
  We also know that Trayvon's mother sent Trayvon to live with his father because she couldn't control him.
  We also know that George didn't land a single punch, or attack until he was able to get his gun out. We also know Trayvon did hit George many times. I don't think you can assault somebody's fist with your face....
  Everything points to Trayvon was upset that some guy was watching him and wanted to teach that guy a lesson... And he picked a fight with a person who could defend himself.
  
  --
  if (it != oneThing) it = another;
10. Re:End of a Dream by AlphaWolf_HK · 2013-09-04 08:30 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  In the 1700's and 1800's we had a concept called fighting words. If somebody used "fighting words" (words that provoked a fight) then that person was responsible for whatever happened afterwards.
  That concept sort of fell apart when it became questionable what constituted fighting words, and what constituted provocation. So, the new standard became whoever made the first physical assault was then responsible. Both the physical evidence and witness testimony showed that it was indeed Trayvon who not only initiated physical contact, but also caused physical injuries and was seen straddling Zimmerman. That is why Zimmerman was found not guilty, and it is also why they chose not to prosecute him in the beginning. It was only after public pressure, and public pressure alone, not evidence or anything else, which is why this went to trial. Also contrary to popular opinion, "stand your ground" was never used as a defense in this case.
  The detectives themselves who investigated the case didn't even want to prosecute it, by the way, because they believed Zimmerman to be innocent. One of the things that convince me personally that Zimmerman is telling the truth is that one of the detectives told Zimmerman that they had the incident on camera, to which Zimmerman replied "thank god" without even thinking about it.
  Besides, if we stuck to "being followed" as a justification for turning around and pummeling somebody's head against concrete, I'd sure hate to be a mall cop.
  
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11. Re:End of a Dream by Arker · 2013-09-04 08:43 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  There was no car involved, the younger man was shot while on top of the older man, apparently attempting to release his brains from his skull with the assistance of the concrete below. Read the trial transcripts.
  
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12. Re:End of a Dream by Petron · 2013-09-04 08:45 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  The drug concoction was a drug called "Lean", "Purple Lean", "Sizzurp", or "Purple Drank". Trayvon's recipe called for Arizona Ice Tea brand Watermelon Fruit-punch cocktail, Cough Syrup (preferably with codeine) and skittles. It's one of the reasons why cough syrup is sold behind the counter.
  Feel free to look up "Trayvon Lean facebook" and see posts by Trayvon on making the stuff... Also look up the LA times article "Lil Wayne hospitalized; sizzurp's powerful high, deadly side effects"
  
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  if (it != oneThing) it = another;
13. Re:End of a Dream by Penguinisto · 2013-09-04 08:46 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Considering that King was reviled by a large hunk of America, and still is (see "Robert E. Lee Day)
  Great. Now I have an image of Dr. King astride a warhorse, leading his sword at full gallop, and charging Confederate positions alongside Sherman in Atlanta.
  What the hell, dude?
  Let's get a couple of things straight here...
  Point The First: Historical celebrations of events long passed does not automatically denote an adherence to the babblings of some backwoods sheet-donning inbred.
  Point The Second: while racism is certainly not dead yet, I can tell you for damned certain that it's currently suffering from a fatal case of terminal neglect. Clue: *ACTUAL* racism has faded so badly that certain ideologues have to invent new meanings of the word (e.g. "I disagree with Obama" == "racist" in some quarters), just to keep the outrage flowing and (more importantly) the campaign coffers full.
  Point The Third: Jesse Jackson and his ilk have been waving Dr. King's bloody shirt for decades now, shaking down individuals and corporations alike for agreement, compliance, and (again, more importantly) money. They have contributed absolutely nothing towards the elimination of racial hatred, and I daresay they have incited more than a little.
  
  --
  Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
14. Re:End of a Dream by hairyfeet · 2013-09-04 09:11 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Sorry but the law says I'm allowed to follow anybody I want down the street, that isn't a crime, you also have somebody in a black hoodie in 84 degree weather at night in a neighborhood that has been robbed repeatedly, that gave Zimmerman every right to wonder if it was another robbery. You have the GF saying on the stand that Martin called Zimmerman a cracker and she encouraged Martin to jump him, you had multiple witnesses that said Martin was pounding Zimmerman's head into the pavement and during the entire fight Zimmerman was totally defensive, never once getting the upper hand, finally you have Martin's own words on FB talking about how he was gonna score a gat, "be gangsta" and laughing about how much fun he had bashing a bus driver's head in for looking at him wrong.
  Given THAT much evidence I don't see how anybody can argue anything but the ONLY reason Zimmerman was prosecuted was because of black activists playing the victim card, right down to constantly showing and selling photoshopped t-shirts of Martin at 11 years old in a hoodie when in reality he was 6 foot 2, had multiple tats, and could bench press over 200 pounds. i'm sorry but I don't care if the guy was green I would have likewise followed anybody acting like that and you can be damned sure I'd defend myself if they jumped me.
  As for MLK I have NO doubt that if he were to comeback tomorrow he would treat the so called "black leaders" as Jesus did the moneylenders at the temple and would be disgusted with the rise of the welfare state, black fathers not stepping up and raising their kids, the idolizing of thugs and gangbangers and demonizing of education, and the blaming all problems of white people. The goal of MLK was to give everyone a chance to be the best they could be regardless of the color of their skin, not to turn being black into a permanent handicap.
  Kinda sad when you can take a black guy straight off the boat from Africa and he has something like 40 TIMES more likelihood of becoming middle class in a single generation than a black man born here. To me that says all that needs to be said, its not the color of their skin, its the demonizing of education and the victim mentality that is holding back black folks in America now.
  
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15. Re:End of a Dream by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-04 09:14 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  But without the benefit of copyright, Dr. King will have no motive to continue giving exemplary speeches in the future.
16. Re:End of a Dream by hairyfeet · 2013-09-04 09:52 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Uhhhh...not only was he in his own back yard when he CHOSE to go back and assault Zimmerman (backed up by the GF on the stand who was egging him on) but he had a CELL PHONE and if he in ANY way, shape, or form felt threatened he could have just as easily dialed 911. The reason why he did not is obvious by reading his FB postings as he LIKED to give people "beat downs" as he called them and in fact posted a long rant on how much he enjoyed beating down a bus driver, with great detail on how good it made him feel BTW.
  
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  ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
17. Re:End of a Dream by cayenne8 · 2013-09-04 10:13 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  No, drug use does not indicate him being a bad person. His attacking someone out on the street indicates he was a bad person. His portrayed persona of being a gangsta wannabe with pictures of him holding guns gives some indication that he wanted to be a bad person. His racial slurs indicates he has little respect for other tells me he was a bad person. I don't miss him and think it is good he was shot. More like him should get what they have coming.
  And funny...you don't see Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson raising a ruckus over the recent killing of a white man from Australia, by some black kids...shooting him in the back with no interaction at all. One of the black kids, has posts out that are extremely racist.
  But then again..that won't put money in Al or Jesse's pocket.
  The civil rights "movement" has become the civil rights "industry" where there is money to be made by black "leaders" race baiting blacks against whites.
  Hell, if MLK's dream came true...they'd be out of a fucking job.
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
18. Re:End of a Dream by AlphaWolf_HK · 2013-09-04 12:48 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  He followed and provoked someone then killed him.
  You skipped a few steps there.
  - Zimmerman followed Trayvon, then turned around and went back to his truck. 911 tapes and witness testimony confirmed this (prosecution witness no less.)
  - He got out of his truck to check the address so that he could tell the police and so they could find him. Again, confirmed by 911 tapes.
  - Trayvon, who was 3 minutes away from being home, decides to turn around and go after "that cracker" (referring to Zimmerman) instead of continuing home.
  - While Zimmerman is checking the address, Trayvon assaults Zimmerman, tells him he's going to die tonight. A witness sees Trayvon straddling Zimmerman on the ground and assaulting him. Zimmerman has wounds on both the front and back of his head, including a broken nose and lacerations. Trayvon has no notable injuries.
  You can clearly see, which prosecution witnesses even testified to, that Zimmerman not only stopped following him, but Trayvon, who could have returned home, instead came after Zimmerman and then assaulted him.
  The problem is that people like you who believe Zimmerman was guilty think it was just a simple matter of "Zimmerman followed and then killed Trayvon" when that statement isn't even remotely accurate due to how much context it discards.
  Let's suppose that "creating the situation" gives the other party permission to assault you (it doesn't,) that "situation" was over the minute Zimmerman returned to his truck to wait for the police. The "situation" in which Trayvon was killed was started when Trayvon decided to return to assault Zimmerman.
  
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Parasitic leeches. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-04 06:49 · Score: 5, Insightful

Dr. King was certainly a very positive agent of change in the world. Too bad his children now exemplify everything that is wrong with it.
1. Re:Parasitic leeches. by cdrudge · 2013-09-04 07:05 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  They exemplify EVERYTHING that's wrong with it? I can think of far, far more examples of things that they aren't exemplifying that's wrong with the world.
  This is a family disagreement that has spilled over to an organization tied to the family. Yes it's ugly. Yes MLK probably would have non-violently spanked all his kids over it. But it's hardly exemplify what's wrong with the world.
2. Re:Parasitic leeches. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-04 07:19 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  So that somehow changes his message? Or are you saying people never do anything wrong if they are christian?
  1+1=2 would be wrong under your definition because someone who taught it is a hypocrite.
I have a dream by SleazyRidr · 2013-09-04 06:50 · Score: 5, Insightful

I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will be judged not by the color of their skin but by the contents of their IP portfolio. Where they can use their last name to profit from my legacy.

--
Is 1563649 a prime number?
1. Re:I have a dream by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-04 07:02 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  It wasn't quite ad-libbed. Dr. King had already given a good portion of the "I have a dream" speech at a smaller rally in Detroit, but had cut that part from the speech that he was to give in Washington, as he didn't want to look like he was repeating himself. The story goes that midway through his speech at the March on Washington, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson shouted, "Tell 'em about the dream, Martin!" as you allude to in your post. At which point Dr. King uttered the famous line, "I still have a dream." The members of the crowd that had been at the Detroit rally began cheering, because they knew what was coming.
2. Re:I have a dream by booch · 2013-09-04 07:46 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Copyright before 1976 did NOT automatically get granted when the ideas hit a fixed form.
  
  --
  Software sucks. Open Source sucks less.
I have a nightmare... by Russ1642 · 2013-09-04 06:53 · Score: 5, Insightful

...that my children will undo everything positive about my life.
Copywritten? by chrismcb · 2013-09-04 07:13 · Score: 4, Insightful

I wondered how this speech could even be copyrighted, as apparently it wasn't registered. Mr wiki says there was a lawsuit a few years ago to determine whether the speech was copyrighted or not. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream
What I don't get is, Mr wiki also claims the speech is under copyright for 120 years, but shouldn't it have been death + 50 years?
The worst part about it, is I find it difficult to believe that someone who made a speech like that would not want it in the public domain. Not having it in the public domain sort of defeats the purpose of the speech.
My lawyer friends "Had a Dream" by triffid_98 · 2013-09-04 07:26 · Score: 4, Funny

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day my children will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these images and speeches to be copyrighted, and that it should be self-evident: that all of my children are entitled to residual revenue in perpetuity, as authorized under section 6 of the copyright act of 1976"