This is kind of interesting and makes me feel even more that Larry Birkhead is a really decent guy. I went to TMZ earlier today, after reading FReepers' posts about the story TMZ had about Opri's legal fees. While there I read some of the posts and seemed like many were talking about setting up a legal fund for him or discussing a way to help with this high fee by Opri. So I went to www.larrybirkhead.net/ and this was all that was on page:
"TRADEMARKS: I have never requested a trademark, signed or filled out any paperwork on a trademark relating to Anna Nicole Smith, and the saying "Goodnight My Sweet Anna Baby." The form was filled out by another individual on my behalf. The form was not reviewed or approved by me. The media is reporting that they have seen a copy of the form, please send me one as I have asked for a copy and never have received it. It does not have my signature or authorization, I am far too busy working on my fight for my daughter Dannielynn, to worry about things like trademarking sayings for use in movies, etc.
**In other words, I will seek to have this trademark withdrawn or cancelled on the grounds it was not approved by me.**
HIGH STAKES POKER: It was reported that I was playing $1500.00 a hand at the high stakes poker table in the Bahamas. FALSE. I do not even know how to play poker and I wouldn't be playing with money like that in any event."
I had things to do, left the computer on, and went about my business I had to do in house. Just a short while ago came back to the computer, checked FR posting and saw I had left connection up to www.larrybirkhead.net/, so I refreshed the page and besides what it had on it before, it now has this also added:
"SAVE DANNIELYN?: PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY DONATIONS TO ME FOR A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. PREVIOUSLY, SOMEONE SET UP A "SAVE DANNIELYNN" DEFENSE FUND FOR ME (AGAIN WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION) AND SOME INDIVIDUALS SENT IN DONATIONS BEFORE THE "FUND" WAS DISCOVERED BY ME AND I DEMANDED THAT PERSON WHO INITIATED THE FUND TO IMMEDIATELY
CEASE ANY UNAUTHORIZED COLLECTION ON MY BEHALF.***
YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH.
LARRY BIRKHEAD"
Bless him.
March 7 Trademark Filed (Goodnight My Sweet Anna Baby) Attorney of Record - Clark D. Gross
March 16 Opri and Birkhead terminate attorney-client relationship. “TMZ has learned that there has been trouble brewing for some time, and that this split was not a surprise to either party. We know they have butted heads over various issues in the past three weeks.”
March 23 Article: But his former attorney, Debra Opri, claims that she advised him to trademark the phrase to "protect himself" and not to pursue any deals. "There's no agenda," she told ABCNews.com. "You don't want someone else to take advantage of something he said internationally -- after he said it in court and then on one of the TV shows, it became famous."
"It's like O.J. trademarked "O.J.," said Opri, likening the move to O.J. Simpson's infamous trademarking of his name in 1996. (The Florida Department of Citrus claimed the trademark, "O.J.," but eventually agreed to share the name with the former football star).