Don't Say Something Bad About John Dillinger; His Great-Nephew Might Sue

from the intellectual-property-run-amok dept

Thu, Nov 15th 2007 9:21am — Mike Masnick

Against Monopoly points us to yet another article highlighting a ridiculous end result of excessive intellectual property laws. You're probably familiar with the name John Dillinger, the famed bank robber who was eventually gunned down outside a Chicago movie theater. Apparently, his grand-nephew is now claiming rights over John Dillinger's name, threatening to sue anyone who refers to Dillinger as a killer or trying to profit off of Dillinger's name. This for a man who died over 70 years ago. This idea that someone's name is "owned" by someone else, seems pretty ridiculous, but is the result of a misreading on an already bad Indiana law on privacy rights. The law was passed in 1994 and only applies to people who died after 1994 -- meaning that Dillinger isn't covered. Also, courts have been striking back against such laws, noting that they're problematic when they end up limiting free speech or giving someone ownership over how factual information can be used. This is an unfortunate result of too many in our society believing that ideas and information can somehow be "owned" and controlled.

Filed Under: intellectual property, jeffery scalf, john dillinger, privacy rights

24 Comments

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Killer_Tofu (profile), 15 Nov 2007 @ 10:04am

Those who ..
.. feel so strongly that these ideas and information can be owned and controlled should move to China, they would fit right in.
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Matt Borgard, 15 Nov 2007 @ 10:34am

John Dillinger was a ruthless murderer, and most likely a child molester!
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- John Dillinger's Great Nephew, 15 Nov 2007 @ 10:40am
  
  Re:
  BAM! You've just been served!
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- John Duncan Yoyo, 15 Nov 2007 @ 11:27am
  
  Re:
  This just cried out for an anonymous coward post.
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Phil, 15 Nov 2007 @ 11:14am

John Dillinger
Douchebag!!! I hope he gets countersued...
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Max Powers at http://ConsumerFight.com, 15 Nov 2007 @ 12:02pm

Here they come
There are so many lawyers that need work it makes me think that they might be seeking people out like this guy and talk them into filing a lawsuit to get some work.
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John Dillinger, 15 Nov 2007 @ 12:32pm

little piss ant
I have more respect for John Dillinger (ther bank robbing murerous bastard) than I do is great nephew at this point.
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- Danny, 15 Nov 2007 @ 1:33pm
  
  Re: little piss ant
  At least his great uncle had the decency to kill you face to face instead of hiding behind a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2007 @ 12:35pm

what if i change my name to John Dillinger? What then? He going to sue me for making money because i'm profiting using my own name?
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2007 @ 12:36pm

John Dillinger was a baby-raper.
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Dillinger Escape Plan Fan, 15 Nov 2007 @ 1:51pm

Don't sue the band.
I hope he doesn't sue Dillinger Escape Plan. It is a great band!
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Erik, 15 Nov 2007 @ 2:57pm

Beats working...
I guess the grand-nephew figures this is a better gig than, you know, trying to get a job. I mean, come on, it isn't a direct relative, he's a freakin' nephew.

And he's trying to capitalize on a law that doesn't apply to John Dillinger. I bet his grand uncle would take him out behind the barn and whoop him good for being such an idiot.
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- Jason, 28 Jun 2009 @ 4:33pm
  
  ignorant
  john dillenger never evan was charged with murder nor child molestation he was a bank robber when thier were no jobs he did it to survive and was notg a murder and if you dont no these things u have never studyied the man so u should keep youre ignorant comments to youre self
  mooresville here
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Nicko, 15 Nov 2007 @ 5:22pm

Dillinger is a killer. Send me a dollar.
So I guess insanity runs in the family. Your grand-uncle robbed banks, killed people, and said he could walk through walls. Now you think you can sue everyone... get medical help now.

----------
MCP: There's a 68.71 chance you're right.
Dillinger: Cute.
MCP: End of line.
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the.arctic, 15 Nov 2007 @ 7:18pm

I grew up in Indianapolis and have been to his grave. Interestingly enough, people have repeatedly defaced his father's gravestone while leaving his relatively untouched. Why? Presumably because the criminal's name is John Dillinger Jr., and he's buried right next to his father, John Dillinger.
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ROFLOMG An Actual Great Nephew, 19 Nov 2007 @ 12:31am

HAH, This is too funny.
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tomka, 2 Jul 2008 @ 7:22am

sf
Try megauploadfiles.comin my opinion the best megaupload search engine ever.
My favorite megaupload search engine is megauploadfiles.com it’s the most powerful an easy to use. megauploadfiles.com has incredible speed of searching rapidshare links in the internet.
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2008 @ 1:37am

The real John Dillenger
It is truly sorry how so many of you attack John Dillenger without having any idea of the facts. John Dillenger was not a crazied killer like bonnie and clyde. He is rumoured to have killed only one person and the facts about that killing are so much in doubt(like the fact that he would have had to drive about 100 miles an hour for six hours to get to the bank where the murder took place) he probably killed no one. However the law enfocement agents chasing him probably killed more civilliams than the dillenger gangs ever did. So before you start attacking him get your stories striaght. He may have been a bank robber but it is highly doubtful he was a killer. And if he did kill anyone it was one person. He was not a murderous bastard as some of you claim.

I really can't stand people who blab on about things without doing any research about them. I don't agree with his great nephew's crap but at least know what you are talking about.

I just worry that their are people out there who vote based on the same lack of research.
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Robert Formely Anonymous Coward as apposed to Here, 2 Nov 2008 @ 1:45am

John Dillenger's reputation
It is truly sorry how so many of you attack John Dillenger without having any idea of the facts. John Dillenger was not a crazied killer like bonnie and clyde. He is rumoured to have killed only one person and the facts about that killing are so much in doubt(like the fact that he would have had to drive about 100 miles an hour for six hours to get to the bank where the murder took place) he probably killed no one. However the law enfocement agents chasing him probably killed more civilliams than the dillenger gangs ever did. So before you start attacking him get your stories striaght. He may have been a bank robber but it is highly doubtful he was a killer. And if he did kill anyone it was one person. He was not a murderous bastard as some of you claim.

I really can't stand people who blab on about things without doing any research about them. I don't agree with his great nephew's crap but at least know what you are talking about.

I just worry that their are people out there who vote based on the same lack of research.

What a joke calling me Anonymous Coward when no one here uses a full name. It must be easy to know who someone called artic actual is(no offense to artic-just an example of how foolish the Anonymous Coward moniker is.
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MpM, 25 Nov 2008 @ 11:22am

A very poor excuse for publicity
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- karry, 1 Dec 2008 @ 5:36am
  
  Re:
  However the law enfocement agents chasing him probably killed more civilliams than the dillenger gangs ever did. So before you start attacking him get your stories striaght. He may have been a bank robber but it is highly doubtful he was a killer. And if he did kill anyone it was one person. He was not a murderous bastard as some of you claim. I really can't stand people who blab on about things without doing any research about them. I don't agree laptop AC adapters with his great nephew's crap but at least know what you are talking about. I just worry that their are people out there who vote based on the same lack of research.
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Ray, 22 Dec 2008 @ 9:36am

Religious background
This is not a comment, but rather a question. Is the story true regarding a Sunday School teacher who told Dillenger to not come back because he had been disturbing the Sunday School class?

Ray
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2009 @ 11:13pm

Mary Kinder (Harry Pierpont's girlfriend) and "Silent Marge"
are my great aunts.
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Redskin, 7 Jan 2012 @ 11:09am

John Dillenger
Screw John Dillenger and his great nephew too.
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