Ridiculous legal threats

Somewhere back in December of 2007, Prosper.com sent a threatening legal letter to Prosper Report, claiming cybersquatting, trademark infringement, and unfair competition. Well, we all thought it was ridiculous, especially since Prosper.com has no qualms of (IMHO) cybersquatting on my neighborhood bank here in Prosper, Texas. You can read the subsequent follow-up letter from a pro-bono attorney from Public Citizen here. Of course, nothing further has been heard from Prosper.

If you thought that was stupid, try this one for size. The owner of the game NationStates got a cease and desist letter from the United Nations! For what? For naming the governing body of his game the "United Nations" and using their logo. My thoughts and comments echo those made by others at the aforementioned blog entry. Surely the UN's lawyers have better things to do that chase after innocuous online games that use the concept of the UN for a convocation of participants? At least one UN lawyer can bask in the warm glow of satisfaction that the good fight against evil has been taken one step further. Good work!