Well, Ain't That Just Frickin' Dandy For MY Line Of Work

Public Citizen is one of several consumer, arts, and public interest groups that have sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemning recent changes in trademark protection that make it a lot easier for people to get sued for what was previously "fair-use".

The specific issue is referred to as "trademark dilution"; as written, the new law could've let (for example) Chevrolet sue Don McLean for singing "drove my Chevy to the levee", or Dave Thomas sue Walter Mondale for using Wendy's phrase "Where's the beef?" Ludicrous. As Atrios points out, trademark law was originally intended to protect people from being confused and ripped off by shoddy imitators with similar brand names and logos, not to protect the sanctity of a brand.

Saw This Before....

... finally nicked it from musicmutt:

• Name a CD you own that you think no one else on your friends list does: I say without hesitation that I've got a freakin' stack of 'em, but the winner would have to be the original soundtrack for the Ed Wood-written movie Orgy of the Dead
• Name a book you own that you think no one else on your friends list does: The Point Man by Steve Englehart
• Name a Movie/DVD/VHS that you think no one else on your friends list has: The Return of Captain Invincible, starring Alan Arkin and Christopher Lee
• Name a place that you have visited that you think no one else on your friends list has: Celebration, FL (okay, okay, it was by accident in the middle of the night, but still)
• Name a tool/piece of technology that you think no one else on your friends list owns: a 10" brass shoehorn