a lawsuit<\/a> Public Citizen filed against the agencies on behalf of Minnesota activist Dan McCall. Public Citizen argued that McCall has a First Amendment right to sell parody merchandise using the NSA and DHS seals.<\/p>\n\u201cThis is an important win,\u201d said Paul Levy, the Public Citizen attorney representing McCall. \u201cCitizens shouldn\u2019t have to worry whether criticizing government agencies will get them in trouble or not. This settlement proves the First Amendment is there to protect citizens\u2019 rights to free speech.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2003, McCall launched his website LibertyManiacs.com, which allowed people to buy T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers and other items designed by McCall, who used images and message of parody and humor to express his often political viewpoints. A popular example is a mug with the NSA seal above the words \u201cSpying On You Since 1952\u201d and a parodied NSA seal that includes the words \u201cThe NSA: The only part of government that actually listens.\u201d<\/p>\n
In March 2011, the NSA sent a cease-and-desist letter to Zazzle.com, the virtual storefront that printed and sold McCall’s designs, threatening litigation unless the website removed the parody designs. The letter stated that by selling the merchandise, Zazzle was in violation of a federal law that prohibits the use of the agency\u2019s name, initials, seal and other symbols for commercial sale unless authorized by the NSA.<\/p>\n
A few months later in August 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) saw a design for sale on Zazzle with a version of the DHS seal and the words \u201cDepartment of Homeland Stupidity.\u201d The department sent a cease-and-desist letter to Zazzle, warning that it was a crime to \u201cmutilate or alter the seal of any department or agency of the United States.\u201d After receiving letters from both agencies, Zazzle removed McCall\u2019s items from its website.<\/p>\n
In October 2013, Public Citizen sued both agencies on behalf of McCall, arguing that the graphics did not create any likelihood of confusion about source or sponsorship, and no reasonable person would believe that the agencies themselves produced merchandise with those messages. The complaint also asserted that the First Amendment protected McCall and Zazzle\u2019s right to use the seals to accurately identify the agencies he criticized.<\/p>\n
Today, both agencies agreed to send Zazzle letters rescinding their cease-and-desist letters and confirming that selling the parodied merchandise violated no federal laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m glad the case helped reaffirm the right to lampoon our government,\u201d said McCall. \u201cI always thought parody was a healthy tradition in American society. It’s good to know that it’s still legal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read the settlement terms here (PDF).<\/a><\/p>\nEzra Gollogly of the Baltimore firm Kramon & Graham, P.A. is local counsel for McCall.<\/p>\n
###
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