Since the latest bizarre reparations-suit project seems to be a favorite among our readers, we suppose we can’t pass it by: “Nabil Hilmi, dean of the law school at Egypt’s University of Al-Zaqaziq, is suing ‘all the Jews of the world’ for stealing ‘from the Pharaonic Egyptians gold, jewelry, cooking utensils, silver ornaments, clothing, and more, leaving Egypt in the middle of the night with all this wealth, which today is priceless,’ according to the Cairo newspaper Al-Ahram Al-Arabi (translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute).” (Ted Olsen, “The World’s Most Outrageous Biblical Lawsuit”, Christianity Today weblog, Sept. 2; MEMRI Special Dispatch #556). More commentary: Judith Weiss, Kesher Talk, Aug. 22; Mona Charen, “Sue the Jews”, TownHall, Sept. 2; Rabbi Avi Shafran, “A truly historic lawsuit”, Jewish World Review, Sept. 3.
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Rule of Lawyers reviewed
Bruce Fein reviews our editor’s latest book for the Washington Times (“Faulting the lawyers for our ills?”, Aug. 31)
Farewell
I just wanted to give my thanks to Mr. Olson for letting me post a few things here about the law, both within and without the usual range of this blog. If you’d like to read more of my posts, you’ll find me at Crescat Sententia.
Tobacco: AGs push Hollywood self-censorship
“In a stunning, courageous admission that they no longer have any serious work left to do, attorneys general in two dozen states recently sent a letter to the Motion Picture Association of America asking that Hollywood minimize smoking in movies so youngsters won’t be gulled into lighting up.” (Nick Gillespie, “Tinselectomy”, Reason, Aug. 29). Check out Gillespie’s list of other destructive behaviors that Hollywood glamorizes, especially the last item. Supposedly the self-censorship will be voluntary: “We’re not saying any law has been broken,” said Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, a rather remarkable admission since there is precisely zero reason for any filmmaker to pay attention to this particular grouping of law enforcement functionaries other than the fear that they could cause some sort of legal trouble in the future unless placated. (“States Ask Hollywood to Cut Film Smoking “, AP/Fox News, Aug. 27).
Other News
Howard Bashman, the other great source for law-related news on the web, is back and blogging.
“Entrepreneur” mag wins a trademark fight
“A federal judge recently ruled that the owner of Entrepreneur Magazine, a small-business publication with about 2 million readers nationwide, has … ‘exclusive right to use the mark in commerce.’ … So you can call yourself an entrepreneur, but if you want to include the word in the name of your business — particularly one in publishing — look out.” This summer, the court “awarded Entrepreneur Media a permanent injunction and $669,656 in damages” against Scott Smith, who ran a public relations firm called Entrepreneur PR. The court accepted the media company’s contention that Smith intentionally infringed on the trademark, “attempting to affiliate his firm with the magazine and feed off its popularity.” (Christine Van Dusen, “‘Entrepreneur’ a trademarked word, court rules”, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aug. 20; article and court opinion at magazine site; Janet Attard, “Business Information and Ideas To Go”, BusinessKnowHow.com, undated; Smith’s response; Scott Allen, “What’s in a Name?”, About.com, undated; Steve Strauss, “Playing the Name Game”, USA Today, Jul. 10, 2002 (earlier 9th Circuit ruling favorable to Smith); Peter I. Hupalo, “Entrepreneur: The Soap Opera Continues”, Thinking Like an Entrepreneur, undated). Scott is now appealing (“What’s in a Name?”, FreshInc., Aug. 14). On Nov. 1, 2001 we covered the magazine’s efforts to enforce its trademark against a different (and unrelated) defendant, the proprietors of the website Entrepreneurs.com.
Our editor interviewed
Last week this site’s editor visited the Sooner State to speak to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, in conjunction with which visit commentator/radio host Brandon Dutcher recorded this informal Q & A which touches on the tobacco and fast food litigation, the prophetic role of former Okla. Sen. Fred Harris, and more (“No Joke: Lawsuit Abuse Hurts Us All”, interview with Walter Olson, OCPA Perspective, August)
One vote- One Man?
Numerous proposals abound to extend the right to vote to children of any age. Micah Schwartzman thinks it’s a questionable idea, but stops short of condemning it entirely. He asks:
Place yourself in the original position and ask: if I didn?t know how old I would be when the veil is lifted, what principles of political representation would I favor? One-(adult) person, one vote?
Free Congress: McConnell v. McGuiness
Is litigation weakening American Culture? Kevin McGuiness says no (see update) but Senator Mitch McConnell says yes. (Via Southern Appeal)
Trash
(Registration Required): Citizens of Riverside are considering suing because the OC called them “White Trash” but Eugene Volokh thinks that they have no chance.