Robert Lutczyk, a local councillor in Oshawa, is claiming that he owns the copyright to the "University of Ontario Institute of Technology." [hat tip: FlackLife]
Local Councillor Claims Copyright in University Name
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What an idiot
Wow, I feel really sorry for the people who have to be represented by this man.
What an idiot.
And to think he somehow got himself elected to public office. Worse to think how poorly his constituents might be represented by someone like that. With this kind of abject and willful ignorance of our copyright laws, it’s no wonder there’s so much disrespect for them. I wish this clown’s beliefs were something rare, but unfortunately there are many people who think this way. A friend of mine started a yelling match when I suggested she couldn’t really exert copyright over her name and address on her business cards, not even by printing a copyright statement on them. It just made her look foolish.
Wow, he’s really on the ball. The UOIT has only been open for, what, 5 or 6 years?
Okay…
This is…muddying the copyright and trademark law waters. No?
Legislative Solution
In Manitoba we have The Degree Granting Act which came into force in December 2006. It provides:
Use of “university” and “varsity”
3(1) Except as authorized by an Act of the Legislature, including a private Act, no person or institution shall directly or indirectly use the word “university” or “varsity”, or any derivation or abbreviation of either of those words,
(a) in the name of any business or undertaking;
(b) in any advertising; or
(c) in the name of any thing, place or building;
without the prior written approval of the minister