[Upd-discuss] IP Pursued by Patriot Act?

[Michael Hart]

1.
I didn't write was sent below, I forwarded it.

2.
Trademarks don't usually expire under these circumstances,
and thus I doubt that "Rubik's Cube" has expired.

3.
I believe the report was the more than the usual Customs
people were involved.

mh


On Sun, 31 Oct 2004, James Davis wrote:

> Michael Hart wrote:
>
>> Yes, there have been other cases as well of use of the PATRIOT Act to
>> pursue copyright infringement. In theory, anything that affects the
>> economy could be called a national security issue, but what is
>> significant is that it is so far only intellectual property that has
>> been singled out for this special protection.
>
> I seem to recall that the particulars of this case are slightly more subtle, 
> the "Magic Cubes" were thought to be imported counterfeit Rubik's Cubes which 
> is why US Customs were involved. US Customs is now part of the the Department 
> of Homeland Security but I don't see how the Patriot Act was involved here at 
> all.
>
> The whole business appears to have been a mistake, the trademarks and patents 
> covering the Rubik's Cube (as far as I can tell) have expired and Pufferbelly 
> Toys still sell Magic Cubes so I presume that everything was eventually 
> resolved. This isn't interesting news unless you subscribe to the common 
> perception that the DHS's only duty is to protect the US from terrorists. You 
> could argue that the officials should have checked the facts first, but we've 
> seen this happen before and will see it happen again.
>
> James
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