Roundeye just doesn't get it. Roundeye is a rock band in Rogers Park, and they seem bound and determined to remain an obscure, amateurish band of immature punks. If they were pros, they would not have had their "booking agent" Mark send me a request to stop using their band logo on The Bench. "Mark," who doesn't give his last name, sent an email to The Bench asking me to "remove any and all Roundeye logo images" from The Bench. (Sorry, Mark, I don't want to.)Mark's poorly crafted letter "notified" me to remove "all Roundeye logo images" from The Bench. Huh? So, other, non-logo images are okay? Perhaps Mark could advise his "client" to stop trashing the neighborhood with Roundeye stickers, applied to stop signs, phone poles, light poles, mail boxes and so forth, all of which is illegal.
Mark reminded me that I did not obtain permission to use Roundeye's badly drawn logo, and said that I must remove it because I do not own it. Apparently Mark and Roundeye don't read many magazines or newspapers, which frequently use logos to illustrate a point or to satirize or parody something or somebody. But I would expect this from poorly educated, semi-literate amateurs.
Parody and satire are protected by law, according to the "Copyright Law of the United States of America and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code":
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. [more at http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107]
Mark optimistically thanked me for my "anticipated" cooperation. Let me thank Mark in advance for his anticipated autofornication.
Dear Mark,
Have a lawyer send a request to cease and desist and I might consider it. In the meantime, Roundeye, as a rock band that seeks publicity, is a public figure and therefore subject to public criticism. The use of its logo as satire or parody is, by my understanding, permissable. I have not used their logo for financial gain. If your puny client cannot stand the heat of public criticism, Mark, then perhaps they should stop seeking the public spotlight.
Here's a question for you, Mark. Does Roundeye have written permission to use logos from the following entities on their MySpace site?:
Chicago Peace Fest; Hemp and Peace Fest; Sexfist; the Cobra Lounge; Pabst Blue Ribbon; Illinois Entertainer; WLUW; Hustler Magazine; He-Man; Warner Brothers (for use of the Tasmanian Devil image); others.Oh, and by the way, Mark, I have half an urge to forward the obscene, unsolicited email that the idiot Brettly sent out to publicize Roundeye. I believe there may be a couple of federal and state laws that were violated by that email.
Oh, and Mark, what the hell is your last name? What kind of amateur are you that you don't use your last name, give the name of your agency, or any contact info other than your email?
UPDATED! NOW READ THE FOLLOWUP
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