This Title Is A Registered Trademark And Is Used Without Permission.

The dilapidated mess known as the American legal system is designed to bring about truth and justice. It usually does a pretty good job, but every once in a while, the language gets so convoluted that some rulings defy all logical thought. Here's a perfect case of that.

Intellectual property is a hot spot with me. People try to copyright everything from logos, to songs, and now, the english language. Seems that even words can be bought and charged for. Leo Babauta of Zenhabits.net is an avid poster on the blogosphere. On April 22nd, he used the phrase "feel the fear and do it anyway" in a post. Only a week later, he recieved a cease and desist email from the attorneys of a Susan Jeffers, PhD. The email revelaed that the above phrase was the title of one of Ms. Jeffers' books. Even though Leo used the phrase without any knoledge or intention regarding to Ms. Jeffers' books, her attorneys thought him to be in violation of Ms. Jeffer's apparant copyright on those seven words. They commanded Mr. Babauta to "insert the (R) symbol after the phrase, in my post, and add this sentence: 'This is the registered trademark of Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. and is used with her permission.'"

What sort of world is this, where even words can be copyrighted to private citizens. If we can't use words freely on ther internet, how long is it until we can't use them in normal conversation?