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In reply to the discussion: NSA, Homeland Security issue ‘cease and desist’ letters to novelty store owner [View all]Humanist_Activist
(7,670 posts)95. As far as I'm aware of, there is no copyright, works of the government are public domain...
seals and such are protected by particular laws not related to copyright law.
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NSA, Homeland Security issue ‘cease and desist’ letters to novelty store owner [View all]
Indi Guy
Nov 2013
OP
So far you're the only person who has brought up Snowden in this thread.
ForgoTheConsequence
Nov 2013
#18
But the unauthorized use of official seals is not. It's like one of us using the
alfredo
Nov 2013
#19
That is OUR trademark. And I think his is a far better use of it than it's official one. n/t
jtuck004
Nov 2013
#21
Government of the people, by the people, etc. It's our US Government, too. LOL.
jtuck004
Nov 2013
#30
It's not theirs. It's ours. They work for us, and not as contractors either. And I get
jtuck004
Nov 2013
#32
But if the creator of the seal transferred the rights to homeland security, then
alfredo
Nov 2013
#56
LOL! Your "ownership" of such a logo or seal is about 0.0000003%. Should you want to change
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#92
Fucking Congress works for us. So does everyone else up there. And I don't give a rat's ass what
jtuck004
Nov 2013
#96
This should be protected by the right "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Towlie
Nov 2013
#84
Doesn't matter, it wouldn't be covered by copyright because its a product of the government...
Humanist_Activist
Nov 2013
#76
As far as I'm aware of, there is no copyright, works of the government are public domain...
Humanist_Activist
Nov 2013
#95
There had to be some legal basis for the cease and desist. It would have be stupid to act otherwise.
alfredo
Nov 2013
#99
Not really, never underestimate the irrationality of large organizations...
Humanist_Activist
Nov 2013
#100
I guarantee you that if logo was used for T's that put the NSA in a positive light...
Indi Guy
Nov 2013
#110
Depending on the Agency, and the use it makes of the seal, there may be additional considerations
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#86
Yes, if the seal is a government seal and if the condoms were clearly a work of satire or criticism
Yo_Mama
Nov 2013
#67
I still don't understand how they can say it is protected under copyright law and trademark law?
alfredo
Nov 2013
#82
Some might see more of a gap, than you do, between (say) a federal agency restricting the use
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#94
Oh, yah! That's exactly what happened in Germany! One day, they restricted the reproduction
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#108
(1) The statute protecting the NSA seal is more than 50 years; and (2) the NSA claims
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#121
It's actually very common for Federal agencies to control use of their logos and insignia:
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#116
Perhaps you should read more carefully: statutes also appear in my links
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#118
That's all very interesting, and I'm glad to hear what the FBI (not mentioned in the OP) thinks, ...
Indi Guy
Nov 2013
#124
"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;...." nt
Deep13
Nov 2013
#12
The "We can't confirm whether we exist or not, but stop the copyright infringement," arguement.
marble falls
Nov 2013
#14
By my wife's thinking this would fall under Free speech-- 1st Amendment issue.
diabeticman
Nov 2013
#41
If people have the right to burn the flag, surely they have the right to parody the seals
Yo_Mama
Nov 2013
#50
re:. NSA, Homeland Security issue ‘cease and desist’ letters to novelty store owner
allan01
Nov 2013
#57
Parodies are protected political speech. In other times, they would lose on this in court.
1monster
Nov 2013
#65
These don't sound like anything the NSA or HS would be printing on their Tees...
1monster
Nov 2013
#72
A Federal agency probably has the right to control use of its seal as part of its property
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#71
Good point! Think of what the Mitt Romney's of the world would do with that seal! nt
adirondacker
Nov 2013
#80
It's very common for Federal agencies to control use of their logos and insignia:
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#85
I'm one that realizes the importance of not plagiarizing agencies symbols. Do you recall the
adirondacker
Nov 2013
#87
I actually intended to post #85 in response to the OP but evidently goofed
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#107
Does the Moon family still own the Washington Times? Is Judicial Watch still an ultra-conservative
progree
Nov 2013
#74
The Moonie Times missed the real story (heard it last summer). The news is the guy sued back...
Pholus
Nov 2013
#78
Don't smoosh everything together and swirl it about into an inedible mess
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#134
Enjoy mucking your way through the bogs and swamplands! And good luck having any real effect!
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#137
... the Zazzle team wasn't a fan, apparently, and they removed McCall's NSA-themed products
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#120
Let's review what we know: (1) the NSA does not appear to have contacted McCall directly;
struggle4progress
Nov 2013
#127
Aside from answering my question, you've expressed your opinion voluminously.
Indi Guy
Nov 2013
#135