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It's OK To Parody the NSA!

posted by Dopefish on Thursday February 20 2014, @08:00AM   Printer-friendly
from the tell-me-it's-true dept.

Gaaark writes:

"The First Amendment has been upheld in the United States!

Dan McCall has been making T-shirts and mugs that parody the National Security Agency as "the only part of government that actually listens" for over a decade. In 2011, he got a cease-and-desist letter from the NSA and from the Department of Homeland Security. Last October, McCall filed a lawsuit saying his shirts and mugs parodied the government agency and were therefore protected by the First Amendment.

'Citizens shouldn't have to worry whether criticizing government agencies will get them in trouble or not,' said Public Citizen's Paul Levy, who filed the suit on McCall's behalf. 'This settlement proves the First Amendment is there to protect citizens' rights to free speech.'

Now, the NSA has admitted: McCall is right ."

 
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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by mcgrew on Thursday February 20 2014, @10:54AM

    by mcgrew (701) on Thursday February 20 2014, @10:54AM (#3469) Homepage Journal

    I'm surprised a civil rights suit wasn't filed. Does a civil rights suit only have to do with race? This guy's rights were violated and he almost certainly lost some sales. Just reimbursing him for legal fees seems pretty damned unjust.

    And I'd like to see someone from the NSA in prison for it. Actually, I'd like to see James Clapper in prison.

    --
    Free Nobots! [mcgrewbooks.com]
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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 20 2014, @02:32PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 20 2014, @02:32PM (#3622)

    No shit, people who abuse power almost ALWAYS get away with it in the US (the country I'm most familiar with). Why the Hell didn't the judge sanction the lawyers and report them to the bar? Why isn't anyone held accountable? I mean other than the poor guy who made the joke, which clearly can't be tolerated. But hey at least he got $500 for years of trauma and lifelong tracking and scrutiny by the FBI, NSA, IRS, etc.