Copyright Gone Wrong
The copyright laws in this country (in this world) are screwed the hell up. The latest evidence: the family of Martin Luther King, Jr. has arranged a payment of $800,000 to allow the use of MLK's image and words on the planned monument on Washington DC mall. They also claim copyright on his "I have a dream speech" and have sued successfully when it's been re-broadcast without royalties to the King family.King himself was so opposed to appearing to profit from his work that when he won the 1968 Nobel Peace Prize, he gave the proceeds to charity. The insistence on payment for the use of the "I Have a Dream" speech is a particular outrage. King gave that speech to a nation -- and a nation responded by rallying to his cause of public service and justice.