Lick this!

The United States Postal Service issued 86 million stamps containing the image of a sculpture on display at the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C.   The USPS obtained a license from the photographer—but not the sculptor.

So, sculptor sues and says it would have licensed the image for a 10% royalty rate.  Damages would then be in the 3 million dollar range.  The trial court said nyet and awarded $5,000.00—because that is the amount the USPS said it would have paid had it elected to follow the law and obtain a license.  However, the COA (Federal Circuit) says the trial judge got it wrong and must weigh the licensor’s hypothetical rate.

Here’s the opinion: http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/opinions-orders/11-5097.pdf

Unfortunately, there is no dicta about how I can stop delivery of the only thing that appears in my mailbox anymore–junk.

Fanfare!

CMA Music Fest has begun in Nashville.  Those of us who have hung around Nashville awhile still call it Fanfare.  It’s come a long way since the days when the artists signed autographs at the dingy Fairgrounds.

Amazing event–something any music fan should attend at least once in their life.  Here’s a link to the 2012 schedule: http://lineup.cmaworld.com/

Diversify, I say!

My investment advisor promised that a diverse portfolio would protect me from market swings.  He was wrong.  

Interscope Records apparently thought diversity was a good idea, too. A manager of some Interscope rap guy named The Game ( I never listen to rap–life is too short for self-inflicted pain) was shipping tons of cocaine in road cases.  The cases were delivered and picked up at Interscope. Diversity, indeed!

Here’s the story: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/interscope-records-cocaine-shipments-654820

Bag wars–may the farce be with you.

Don’t get me wrong–I love clean air, water, and diapers.  But I grow weary of much of the “green” crowd who preach legislation and taxation but practice gluttony.  I’m not naming names–you know who you are.

ChicoBag markets “environmentally friendly” grocery bags.  It made allegedly false statements about the  negative environmental impact of traditional plastic bags.  Now, the plastic bag manufacturers have their polymers in a wad and are suing for lost sales.  Here’s the complaint:  Hilex.

When in Nashville…..

…you cannot go wrong dining at Tamarind Indian Bistro.  Absolutely delicious, walk to Music Row.

View the menu here:  http://tamarindnashville.com/

TOP 10 COPYRIGHT CASES FOR JULY

Some good stuff, courtesy of Lexis.

http://www.lexisnexis.com/community/copyright-trademarklaw/blogs/topcases/archive/2011/08/02/top-10-copyright-cases-for-the-month-of-july-2011.aspx

*Bargain Wine Alert*

I love wine.  Liquid life. Nectar of the gods.  But, I always stretch my inebriation dollar.  Here’s one of my recent discoveries, about $7.99 street.

Redtree Pinot Noir.   You cannot go wrong with this one!