Legal news, some illegal. All of it interesting
1. Darth Days for Star Wars-Named Kid Seeking Passport
The empire struck back at a UK 7-year-old because of his Star Wars name. The parents of Loki Skywalker say the Death Star, or Passport Office, denied their son a passport because his name relates to a trademark or copyright. Authorities told them: do or do not get permission from Disney to use that name (there is no try) or – change it. The family almost turned to the dark side. Instead, they used the force (journalism) and suddenly, a new hope. After sharing their story with reporters, the Office issued their son’s passport. They’re not flying Han Solo. A child with a Game of Thrones name was also initially denied a passport.
2. Star Wars Break Out Over Digital Clone
Also from the Empire – clone wars. Actor Peter Cushing’s old friend is suing the makers of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story for digitally recreating his likeness 22 years after his death. Kevin Francis, who made several films with Cushing, says his chum gave him control of his image rights in 1993, agreeing not to allow any recreation through special effects. Disney sought a dismissal, saying Kevin, I am your father. Not really, but it did argue today’s special effects were scarcely conceivable when Cushing allegedly signed that agreement. Plus, it paid Cushing’s estate. A London judge admits Francis’ claims may be a sky walk, but not enough to dismiss.
3. Airline Climate Change Suit & Lawyer’s Crash Landing
A New York lawyer’s been told to climate change his ways. A federal judge sanctioned Spencer Sheehan because of a lawsuit he brought against the Dutch airline KLM over its environmental pledges. Sheehan, who’s best known for food mislabeling lawsuits, represented a passenger claiming she chose KLM because of its green commitment. She later admitted she used a third-party booking service and had no choice of airlines. Sheehan proceeded anyway. The judge, globally warm under the collar, fined him and ordered him to pay KLM’s legal expenses. He also noted that Sheehan’s bad for the legal environment since he’s been sanctioned at least six times by other judges since 2022.
4. Sick Mudders Allege Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Dozens of people who entered the 2023 Tough Mudder say organizers did’em dirty and they’re suing. At least 150 participants filed lawsuits, claiming they got sick after being exposed to a bacteria in the waist-high mud at the event. Sonoma County health officials say Tough Mudder used nonpotable water – that’s the kind with manure and other pollutants in it – to create their mud, which violates health codes. Tough Mudder already had somewhat of a soiled reputation. They used the same kind of dirty water in the 2022 race, and many of those poor Tough Mudder suckers, got sick too. Our advice? If the mud smells like a cow’s south side, avoid.
5. Crypto-Fueled Network State School – It’s a Thing
Finance and tech bros, grab your Bitcoins and down vests. School’s in sesh. We’re talking about venture capitalist Balaji Srinivasan’s super-secret Network School, a three-month tutorial for crypto-lovin’ anarcho-capitalists. They’re meeting at a secret location and supposedly learning how to establish a decentralized country where capitalism, not government rules. Instead of a degree or certificate they earn NFTs. Cuz modern and tech. Participants had to meet some prerequisites to attend, such as admiring Western values, seeing Bitcoin as the successor to the US Federal Reserve, trusting AI over human courts and judges and thinking Jennifer Lopez’s movie Atlas, about loving and trusting AI, was really good. OK, we made up the Atlas thing.
