Prisoners attempt to force release using.. copyright law?

[SirFozzie]

Gotta give em points for originality..

+5 for originality, -500,000 for Common Sense.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article...1&in_page_id=2

The annals of bizarre attempts to escape from prison have a new, and magnificently stupid, entry. Four federal inmates are accused of trying to escape from jail using copyright law.

The four were indicted Tuesday on allegations that they copyrighted their names, then demanded millions of dollars from prison officials for using the names without authorization.

The indictment alleges that inmates Russell Dean Landers, Clayton Heath Albers, Carl Ervin Batts and Barry Dean Bischof sent demand notices for payment to the warden of the El Reno federal prison and filed liens against his property. They then hired someone to seize his vehicles, freeze his bank accounts and change the locks on his house.

Then, believing the warden's property had been seized, the inmates said they would not return his property unless they were released from prison, according to the indictment.
It was at this point that the plan hit one of its many snags - the person hired by the inmates turned out to be an undercover FBI agent, according to U.S. Attorney John C. Richter.

Another slight snag in the (otherwise excellent) plan is the fact that copyright law really doesn't work like that.

The four men, along with 50-year-old William Michael Roberson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were indicted on accusations of conspiring to impede the duties of federal prison officials, Richter said. Roberson is accused of assisting the four inmates in the scheme, which allegedly took place in late 2003 and early 2004.

All five were also indicted on charges of mailing threatening communications with the intent to extort.

The conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a £122,000 ($250,000) fine. The mail charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and another $250,000 fine.

[Young Drachma]

Wow, delusion knows no bounds.

[Surtt]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Another slight snag in the (otherwise excellent) plan is the fact that copyright law really doesn't work like that.

Tell that to the RIAA.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Surtt

Tell that to the RIAA.

+1

[sterlingice]

That's an awesome story. I don't know where to begin. First, that they tried to break out of prison. Badly. Second that they were planning to ransom the warden's stuff (I kindof like that part of the plan). And, of course, that they hired an undercover agent. Oops.

SI

[Yossarian]

and of course they completely misunderstand what copyright is for and how it works...

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Yet another reason they need to take a serious look at copyright laws. I mean, does anybody truly understand them? The only thing surprising here is that it took so long for this to happen. The way the copyright law is written it is practically the equivalent of handing a three year old a loaded 9mm on his way to day care.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

Yet another reason they need to take a serious look at copyright laws. I mean, does anybody truly understand them? The only thing surprising here is that it took so long for this to happen. The way the copyright law is written it is practically the equivalent of handing a three year old a loaded 9mm on his way to day care.

Actually when helping a friend study for torts, I came to what I think of is a scary conclusion. We all live in a society and are subject to laws that take some of the smartest people in our country 4 years just to study a small segment of. Not only that but they are flexible and can change from year to year. Oh, and keep in mind that we are all held to the standard of being perfectly rational human beings with behavior that can be strictly scrutinized for days with 20/20 hindsight after the fact.

Not only that but we are subject to the whims of judges, people who fit the above descriptor (re: 4 years, small segment of law) but also are fallable human beings, and how they choose to interpet said laws. Plus, the laws really only lay the foundation for any case, and it's really determined by the capabilities of two people arguing out sides.

SI