since he was a feature on the news!
He worked at Dunkin Donuts and he kept putting salt instead of sugar in people's coffee ... he did it for awhile - just enough not to be too noticeable.
As he started choosing "favorite" customers, he upped his antics, they caught on, and he got arrested, rightfully so.
He thinks that this is hysterical and should be recieving royalties for it.
He is in his 30's and is not intellectually or mentally challenged, but how do I get it through his thick head that he will not recieve royalties for this before he really makes a fool of himself contacting a lawyer for a case!
2007-03-27 04:18:03 · 15 answers · asked by Reserved 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Your bro sounds like my kind of guy. You should let him go for it and see if he can end up with some fat cash. What does he have to lose? His dignity is already gone because he's in his 30's working at dunkan doganuts
2007-03-27 04:27:26 · answer #1 · answered by lumpy_tx 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Peronsally, I think your brother is a moron. Unless he has a show on MTV or something, he has no claim. Anything that airs on any particular channel is considered property of that channel. Everything he did was also in a public forum. He didn't have any contracts with anyone either. Any self-respecting judge or attorney will think that he's nuts.
My suggestion: Sometimes tough love is needed to knock some sense into people. Maybe you should let him fall on his face, just for the sake of the reality check. Give him the name of some attorneys. After his reality check, maybe he'll go back to school, and stay away from dunkin' donuts.
Good Luck!
2007-03-27 04:35:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Royalties for what? For being on the news? Sorry, but people don't get paid to be on the news.
For coming up with a prank? Sorry, but people have been doing this for a l-o-n-g time. Prior art, so he can't patent or copyright his stunt.
Given that he's in his 30's and thinks this is funny, I don't see you having any luck getting it through his thick skull.
Let him contact a lawyer. I'll bet he'll find someone who will take all his money.
2007-03-27 04:28:36 · answer #3 · answered by Jay 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
(1) "Facts" aren't subject to royalties, only the "expression" of facts and ideas are copyrightable. Fair and honest news reporting would constitute the news reporter's own expression of the facts (and thus they'd be an author of the expression) and also is protected through the "fair use" exception to copyright (if the news reporter did take a piece of copyrighted material).
(2) The news reporters are not using his image commercially (for an "invasion of privacy" -- "appropriation" tort claim), and, unless they're sticking cameras through your window or walking on your lawn, they're not liable for invasion of privacy by intrusion upon seculsion. The events are newsworthy, so any other privacy torts or "appropriation of likeness" torts do not apply.
(3) There is a law in which criminals cannot profit from royalties to publish their stories (i.e. "movie of the week" or "book deal" profits from true trime). I don't know if the law applies in this case, but that would also preclude him from profitting from the publication of any media stories, etc.
Tell him to grow up -- criminals can't profit from the publication of their crimes in the paper.
2007-03-27 04:55:27 · answer #4 · answered by Perdendosi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wouldn't be able to receive a dime, and it wasn't funny. Some people are on sodium restricted diets for heart or kidney conditions or due to medications they may be on. He is lucky he didn't kill someone, because the implications are real. He sounds like he needs to grow up, and I can guarantee you that he isn't owed any royalties from anybody. He actually owes his victims money in my opinion. Are you sure about the not mentally challenged thing?
2007-03-27 04:23:15 · answer #5 · answered by ♥austingirl♥ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He doesn't own the intellectual rights for anything he did. And he got no ones permission to be on video or anything else. Most of all no one made money off of it except the newspapers and they don't have to pay royalties to those who make the news.
2007-03-27 04:23:09 · answer #6 · answered by Lupin IV 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In all honesty if your brother was 30 and doing this and thought it was funny and on top of that cant understand he does not deserve royalties then I think you are wrong in thinking he is not mentally challenged because he is obviously lacking somewhere in the mental department....
2007-03-27 04:25:18 · answer #7 · answered by non_stopangel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let him make a fool out himself, maybe it will teach him a lesson. He sounds like one of those people that needs to learn things the hard way and this is the best way for it to happen.
2007-03-27 04:26:26 · answer #8 · answered by Linds 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The dork needs about 10 years in the slammer so HE can benefit from his prank!
2007-03-27 04:33:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
just remind him that he's in his 30's and working at dunkin donuts. that would be embarassing to me. although it is better than just sitting around doing nothing
2007-03-27 04:26:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋