[Arkinsaw]

Wonder when the US government will copyright the flag, or the President's seal? Perhaps they will trademark the outline of the Capitol building, Washington Monument, etc.

Can you imagine getting a lawyer letter telling you to cease and desist for having a graphical representation of the White House?

The good thing about this is that maybe we won't have to see Los Angeles on television anymore.

[billybudd]

We expect to be treated just like the GAP, Starbucks and Coca-Cola

Yeah, but those companies don't tax you. They take your voluntary contributions. If LA wishes to do this, so be it. BTW, I thought the government was supposed to be a "public" institution - so why would they care about intellectual property?

[glc1173@aol.com]

"The city of Los Angeles has threatened legal action against the makers of two new TV police dramas if they use likenesses of the city's trademarked police department badges, logos, or even the LAPD's good name, without city permission."

The LAPD's "good name?" Aside from the Ramparts scandal and Mark Fuhrman's perjury, does the city contend that the evening TV news and the Los Angeles Times will have to pay the city to run stories on the LAPD?