The ODDEST bill I have ever read, what is it?

11-4-2010 Michigan:

In Michigan, a unnamed Senator, is proposing a bill (S-1556) which says, verbatim:

Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "right of publicity act".

Sec. 2. As used in this act, "right of publicity" means a property right in the name or likeness of an individual.

Sec. 3. An individual who is a public figure has a protected right of publicity. The name or likeness of an individual who is a public figure shall not be used for commercial profit during his or her lifetime or for a period of 50 years after the date of the individuals death without the written consent of the individual or his or her successor in interest.

Thats the whole bill, nothing more, except what it means, here we go, Newspapers can never mention the name of nor print a picture of a lawmaker without his/her written consent, during his/her lifetime -OR- for 50 years thereafter.

Clearly newspapers are a for-profit business, and how many other businesses are for-profit? Think about this.

Now, as we all know, laws frequently have unintended consequences, and I can think of one I'll bet this unnamed lawmaker didn't think of before proposing this law:

Sex offender registries, clearly make registrants public figures, in fact, the registry intent is to make those registrants well known to the public, would anyone disagree?

And, and, lawmakers often speak about certain registrants, don't they, do they do that to keep their jobs? And,if so are they profiting? Maybe thats over the edge.

OK all you for-profit businesses, in Michigan, sex offender registrants -throughout the entire nation- can never be named or their likeness shown by a Michigan for-profit business, in anything they profit from.

Hummm, is law enforcement a for-profit business, or are they established to lose money?

Am I right about this, how do you read the proposed law, let me know.

For now have a great day and a better tomorrow.
eAdvocate