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Alleged Ax-Murderer Claims News Reporter Violates His Likeness Rights

from the publicity-rights-gone-mad dept

Thu, Apr 7th 2011 10:27am — Mike Masnick

In the latest example of "publicity rights" gone mad, a guy on trial for murder, David French, has asked that a judge in the court order a TV news reporter to turn off his recording equipment because he doesn't want his story told in the press before he gets to write a book about it. As the anonymous submitter of this story noted, "presumably, French is unaware that, if found guilty, the "Son of Sam Law" would prevent him from profiting on any such book."

French said the reporter had no right to record the trial because French may want to write a book someday and doesn't want media telling the story first.

"The court is allowing a commercial entity to make money off of this," French said. "They don't have a right to my name, likeness and ... story."

Thankfully (but not surprisingly), the court shot this down pretty quickly, pointing out that cameras are allowed in the courtroom.

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Filed Under: likeness rights, murderer, publicity rights

11 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2011 @ 10:49am

WRONG
In the latest example of "publicity rights" gone mad, a guy on trial for murder, David French, has asked that a judge in the court order a TV news reporter to turn off his recording equipment because he doesn't want his story told in the press before he gets to write a book about it.

CORRECT
In the latest example of "publicity rights" gone mad, a guy on trial for murder, David French, has asked that a judge in the court order a TV news reporter to turn off his recording equipment because he doesn't want his story told in the press.
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Andrew F (profile), 7 Apr 2011 @ 10:49am

Incentives?
Is no one else concerned that giving publicity rights to alleged ax murders creates all sorts of moral hazards?
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James Carmichael, 7 Apr 2011 @ 10:54am

Re:
Hum... ya, Mike, show some kindness for the alleged ax-murderer here. He just wants to write a book about what WOULD HAVE HAPPENED if he was the ax-murderer. Poor, poor fellow. *cough* O.J. *cough*
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Mike42 (profile), 7 Apr 2011 @ 10:54am

Stupidity of publicity rights
Something I was thinking about... if I make a movie of clips from other public domain movies, would I be in violation of this law? This could really mess up the next MST3k/fractured flickers show.
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MrWilson, 7 Apr 2011 @ 11:15am

Re: Incentives?
Yeah, the Greeks were concerned about this type of issue over 2000 years ago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herostratus.
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Berenerd (profile), 7 Apr 2011 @ 11:40am

Re: Re:
OJ will bring the true murderer to justice and make sure he dies for his acts of brutality...I mean after all...how old is OJ?
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chris (profile), 7 Apr 2011 @ 12:13pm

Re: Incentives?
Is no one else concerned that giving publicity rights to alleged ax murders creates all sorts of moral hazards?

what are you some sort of limp wristed anti-american liberal whiner?

david french is a hard working american looking to pull himself out of this recession by his bootstraps and you white wine drinking boy lovers want to keep him down.

in case you haven't noticed, ax murder is this country's only growth industry, providing thousands of jobs for unemployed americans. it's pinkos like you that are destroying this once great nation.

once mr. french gets his book deal i'm picking up my ax to do my part. you too can be part of the movement at http://www.axmurderparty.org
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2011 @ 2:05pm

Might be a good book:
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/04/defendant_goes_to_trial_for_ax.html

"The trial is unusual because the defendant is transgender and the defense and prosecution are using different pronouns. Defense attorneys refer to French as a "she," which is the orientation French identifies with. The prosecutor refers to French as a "he," French's legal gender. "

"Snowden, the prosecutor, said Johnson wanted French to move out of the cluttered one-bedroom apartment in the 5700 block of North Kerby Avenue. The night of the killing, he confronted French. Johnson had found another transgender individual he was romantically interested in. "
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The Devil's Coachman (profile), 8 Apr 2011 @ 5:37am

How about a new pronoun for this creature?
Like maybe calling it what it is, which is an it. Not a he, not a she, but it. That would be truthful and relevant.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Apr 2011 @ 9:48am

Re: How about a new pronoun for this creature?
... and dumb and insulting.
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AC, 21 Apr 2011 @ 4:43pm

Hurt
I have to ask, why are people much more enamored by the fact that French is transgendered and have NOTHING to say about the fact that he MURDERED a man (my Uncle)? I just don't understand it.
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