Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Steve Burt pointed me to the following story, in which the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate threatens to sue a New Zealand publisher over a novel in which Tarzan grows up to become Elvis. New Zealand's term is life plus fifty and Burroughs passed away in 1950, so fair use is unnecessary as a defense of the novel in New Zealand -- but the estate has nonetheless threatened suit if the publisher reprints the novel in New Zealand (or sells it in other countries). I wish I knew what was the basis, other than unmitigated gall, for the threat against reprints in New Zealand. Perhaps trademark?

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