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

Posted by Soulskill on 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."

12 of 344 comments (clear)

  1. End of a Dream by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    MLK's legacy capitalizing on MLK's legacy.

    Go for it kids!

    1. Re:End of a Dream by meerling · · 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 · · 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.

      --
      Careful with names containing L slashdot.org/~AiphaWolf_HK slashdot.org/~AlphaWoif_HK slashdot.org/~AiphaWoif_HK
    3. Re:End of a Dream by Anonymous Coward · · 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 · · 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 Petron · · 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"

      --
      if (it != oneThing) it = another;
    6. Re:End of a Dream by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      But without the benefit of copyright, Dr. King will have no motive to continue giving exemplary speeches in the future.

    7. Re:End of a Dream by cayenne8 · · 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.........
  2. Parasitic leeches. by Anonymous Coward · · 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 · · 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.

  3. I have a dream by SleazyRidr · · 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?
  4. I have a nightmare... by Russ1642 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...that my children will undo everything positive about my life.