Lawmaker, Convicted Of Raping Foster Kids, Claims Name Is Copyrighted So You Can't Report It

from the what-happens-when-you-teach-people-that-copyright-allows-ownership-of-words dept

A bunch of folks have sent in this story of former South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt, who was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago, and who is now claiming that his name is covered by copyright, so no one can report on it. More specifically, he’s trying to claim a “common law copyright.” Unfortunately for Mr. Klaudt, except in extremely limited circumstances, the US does not recognize “common law copyright.” He’s demanding written permission to use his name in a news report, and has apparently demanded anywhere from $500,000 to $2 million for each “unauthorized” use. Apparently Klaudt, despite having been a former lawmaker, is unfamiliar with the basics of the law. Perhaps he can use his time in prison — where he will most likely be for quite some time — to study up.

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Comments on “Lawmaker, Convicted Of Raping Foster Kids, Claims Name Is Copyrighted So You Can't Report It”

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46 Comments
Brendan (profile) says:

So how much for this post?

By his calculations, $5M – $20M.

Sorry Mike, I don’t have the cash on me. Do you accept travelers cheques?

BEGIN SPAM WALL
Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago. Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago.
END SPAM WALL

Ima Fish (profile) says:

Wait a minute, are you saying that former South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his two foster daughters a couple years ago? Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of rape? The Ted Alvin Klaudt?

Wow, I can’t believe that Ted Alvin Klaudt was convicted of raping his foster daughters. Ted Alvin Klaudt, the former state rep. You know, the Ted Alvin Klaudt who was convicted of raping two foster daughters.

. says:

Not a great headline a better one would be...

…Copyright used to shield convicted child molester.

Or

Copyright helps convicted child molester.

Or

Copyright aiding and abetting convicted child molester.

This is fun LoL

Have he issued DMCA takedowns yet?

That would be fun to put on the front page.

“Convicted child molester issues takedown notices”.

Ima Fish (profile) says:

Convicted rapist Ted Alvin Klaudt

Check out the Supreme Court of South Dakota’s opinion (PDF) here. It’s a great summary of the facts. The guy is a total sicko.

It appears he molested many more girls than just these two. And his defense was, get this, because he tricked them into submitting to fake medical exams, which he performed despite having no medical training or background, it was not technically rape because, well, they submitted to it. Never mind the fact that they never would have submitted if they knew the truth.

And it’s totally depressing that one of the victims had a father who sexually abused her. So when the state placed her with the not yet convicted rapist Ted Alvin Klaudt, she probably thought she was safe and that her troubles were behind her. In reality it was out of the frying pan into the fire. Now she’ll probably never trust another man again.

Luckily the sicko got 44 years so he’ll never see the light of day again.

Anonymous Coward says:

This story has little to do with copyright, is has everything to do with a convicted child molesting scumbag trying everything under the legal system to keep his name from being out there.

Another stupid republican fool thinking that the laws don’t apply to him, only the people he writes laws for. Ever notice that republicans write the hardest laws against porn, are the most arrogant about gays and gay marriage, and yet many of them turn out to be either in the closet or in some little kid’s pants?

Anonymous Coward says:

Re: Re:

Please point out where I am wrong, mentioning that some of the most strident anti-gay republicans always seem to be the ones that end up having had an affair with male staff members, male hookers, or some combination there of? Aren’t the republican’s the grand moral christian conservatives who would never do this stuff? Yet is almost always seems to be a republican caught out looking like fools.

Maybe they were getting moral advice from Jimmy Swaggart.

JustMe (profile) says:

South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt

So you mean I can’t say that South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person because he has a copyright on his name? Interesting, because I thought I could say that South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person because, even though South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt, again, a world-renowned despicable and reprehensible person, thinks I can’t.

Wow, this is a puzzler. If only someone like South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt, a well known despicable and reprehensible person, were here to help me out. You know, I’m almost sure that South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person. And I don’t care if South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt (a despicable and reprehensible person) thinks he has a copyright on his name because South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person.

South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person
South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person
South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person
Phhhbbbtttt!

kevin (profile) says:

Ted Alvin Klaudt, a well known despicable and reprehensible person, were here to help me out. You know, I’m almost sure that South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person. And I don’t care if South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt (a despicable Wood Burning Pellets and reprehensible person) thinks he has a copyright on his name because South Dakota state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is a despicable and reprehensible person.

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