The website of the Ann Arbor Public School system can be found at http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/. A parody version of it (created by an unknown author) is at http://annarborpublicschools.org/. Apparently the school district doesn't find the parody amusing, because they're sending its domain host a cease-and-desist letter claiming infringement of their intellectual property. The two sites do look very similar, but I don't think their case would hold up in court. After all, parody relies upon copying elements of whatever it's making fun of, and parody has always been a "fair use" exception to copyright that the courts have strongly defended. However, the question will be whether the case ever gets to a court. Often domain hosts see a cease-and-desist letter and immediately take down the material in question rather than risk any kind of legal action. We'll have to wait and see what happens here. But I took a screen shot of the parody site, just in case it does disappear.
Comments
Copyright law does not require that a parody specifically state that it is such. Even the lawmakers know that requiring that would diminish the effect of satire. Besides, there is absolutely no way anyone could read that site and not know it's a parody.
It received 35000 hits during its short live and many emails. None showed any sign of having been deceived. No one thought the site was the real site or that they were emailing anyone really affiliated with the AAPS system.
All but one email was supportive. Most emails expressed either gratitude for the laugh or the humorous yet true exposition of the issues, or were in kind. That is, giving proposals for savings, for example, that were also hilarious and over the top.
It of course the whole thing was parody. It was over the top, unmistakeable parody. I am waiting to see if the district and its lawyers, who make over $390 an hour, will come after me beyond the cease and desist letter.
Alan Pagliere, the creator of the site.
PS. 1) Thanks for your interest. Here's to exposing mismanagement, and disingenousness at all levels of government and politics, in all ways, serious ( http://proposedhighschool.org ) and humorous.
2) See http://www.theyesmen.org for more about "identity correction"
And by the way, buddhaonline, I don't think parody has to identify itself with a disclaimer. But a lot of parody sites do, just to play it safe.
I will likely fill it out a bit more, but that's it for now.
And no, of course parody doesn't need to have a disclaimer. Imagine Saturday Night Live having to disclaim every impersonation of George Bush or other famous person.
chau,
Alan