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/