Ad Exec Threatens To Sue Over Copyright On Hitler's Globe In Tom Cruise Movie
from the you-copyrighted-what-now? dept
A bunch of folks have been submitting the story that ad exec Robert Pritikin is claiming that Tom Cruise's new movie, Valkyrie, about the plotted (and failed) assassination of Adolf Hitler, abuses his copyright on Hitler's globe. Apparently, Pritikin purchased Hitler's globe many years ago, and then somehow registered the copyright on it. He claims that he did this to prevent neo-Nazi groups from using the globe for propaganda, but it's never explained how Pritikin has the right to copyright such a globe in the first place (it simply doesn't make legal sense that buying the globe alone granted him the right to copyright it).
In truth, this actually seems like Pritikin looking for a way to pump up the value of the globe. There's no indication of any actual lawsuit -- just the complaints from Pritikin, complete with him saying he's sure it was just an "oversight" that will be fixed soon. On top of that, there's the news that Pritikin just coincidentally (uh, yeah, sure) happens to have put the globe up for sale, and (oh, look at that) wouldn't mind if Tom Cruise purchased it. So rather than a legitimate copyright claim, these complaints are looking more and more like a way to force someone to buy the globe.
In truth, this actually seems like Pritikin looking for a way to pump up the value of the globe. There's no indication of any actual lawsuit -- just the complaints from Pritikin, complete with him saying he's sure it was just an "oversight" that will be fixed soon. On top of that, there's the news that Pritikin just coincidentally (uh, yeah, sure) happens to have put the globe up for sale, and (oh, look at that) wouldn't mind if Tom Cruise purchased it. So rather than a legitimate copyright claim, these complaints are looking more and more like a way to force someone to buy the globe.






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He May Not Even Own it
"The Huffington Post article states: "When Pritikin bought the globe, he paid 5 times it's pre-auction estimate. It was sold by an American soldier named John Barsamian who had found it in the ruins of Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" in the Bavarian Alps in May 1945."
Seems that a case could be made that this was stolen property and that Pritikin would be obligated to return it to whoever the rightful owner would be today.
The Independent in 2000 had the following article: "Nazi loot returned to owner" This is one of many such articles. The Independent wrote: "But new research by the Bavarian State Collections in Munich and the Commission for Looted Art in Europe showed the triptych had been unlawfully taken from the Gotthilf family, who later changed their name to Glanville." Actually the issue was not simple, but complicated. Nevertheless, the point is that this globed was looted."
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Buying opportunity
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Re: Buying opportunity
Damn! Ruined the joke.
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Uh...right
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Jesse
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Work of art?
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Re:
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Next time warn us of plot spoilers!!!
:-)
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Re:
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And for those that claimed that the globe should return to the descendants of its former owners: The globe was HITLER'S. He has no descendants.
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Globe ownership
I don't know anything about German law, but just because you have no decedents doesn't mean that someone can appropriate ownership. Hitler could have had a will. Hitler could have had relatives who are still alive who would be entitled to a what would be left of any estate. Even if he didn't leave a will or have relatives the property could revert to the German State.
Anyway if this guy Pritikin had any moral integrity (as he claims) he should donate it either to the Wiesenthal Center or back to the German government.
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Re: Globe ownership
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Unethical Pritikin
owner. Bob Pritikin is an opportunistic dirtbag.
He also has art work in his house that does not belong to him, and he is fully aware of it.
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Do not let this stupid Bob Pritikin waste your time. I hope you will not buy this globe at any cost. I have read about Bob Pritikin on line http://www.yelp.com/biz/chenery-house-san-francisco
He seems to be a strange one.
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HITLERS GLOBE
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He is a ad man who know exactly how to generate publicity.
He is doing this because of his plans to sell the globe and Pritikin hopes this publicity will increase interest in this piece of junk globe in order to make as much money as possible. Pritikin and Peter Marino know each other well and are friends.
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