The precedent set by this Court has disenfranchised writers or creative persons and will oppress persons, publishers, corporations, authors and artists.
The Court in a Michigan case has made a decision Using an Unsigned document to determine Ownership against an artist who had a filed Copyright in Wash. D.C and this law will impact all artists in the United States if the decision is not reversed.
If you Oppose the use of the Court from Using such an Unsigned document to determine who is the Owner please respond. Please Reply below by clicking on the word Comment.
Shelton Rivers a notable songwriter, movie score composer and producer was shocked and outraged to lose his entire property interests in a three-time platinum song. The U.S. District Court, Judge David Larson in Detroit ruled against Shelton Rivers using an "unsigned" document allegedly prepared by the expert and revised extensively by defense attorneys with no signature. The Court found the unsigned document prevailed over his signed and filed copyright.
The music at issue sold over 3 million albums featuring 50 Cent a.k.a. Curtis Jackson, published by P Diddy a.k.a. Sean Combs co., and performed by DMX a.k.a. Earl Simmons.
"The root of any problem one must ask why was the document not signed or supplemented. Why was it filed and unsigned with omitted exhibits when one asked to have it signed? The obvious comes to mind. An unsigned document has no legal legs to stand on nor is it reliable. The decision must be reversed and set aside. The Defendants' hands are not clean and the judgment reasonably appears to be fraudulent or tainted to undermine the copyright." -William Alex Haley, CEO of the Roots Foundation is a renowned speaker, consultant and contributor to 'Roots legacy Series', the most widely viewed series in America's history, written by his father, Alex Haley, one of the most prominent authors in America's history referenced by Time Magazine.
"If we cannot rely on a properly signed document, then there is no need to have any documents or to abide by the law." -Furqan Mohammed, founder of the Circle of Knowledge Foundation, historian, trustee, and a collector of the most prominent documents in the 20th Century in America who is launching a major national exhibit with the support of the University of Michigan and Harvard University.
"How could a court be so unreasonable and cause so much harm and have a decision in favor of a party who used an unsigned document when Plaintiff has a valid copyright? This is troubling for one's conscious and the court system in the United States." -Rod Spencer, historian of artifacts, consultant.
"There is no reason where I would support the submission into evidence of an unsigned 'expert opinion'. Such submissions could be tampered with, altered, modified with no accoubntablity. It is essential that we have a clear trail of who created these opinions, their background and creditability. If we allow these anonymous opinions, anything can and will be created and there will be no basis to weigh in. People will use the anonymity to hide while they give wild, extravagant and bias opinions, knowing that they do not have to put their names to it. We should always be able to question the expert opinions and that begins by knowing who the expert who is putting themselves out there is. I am completely against the use of an 'Unsigned Expert Opinion' -Billy Whitehouse, activist, artist, author, and member of the Detroit Entertainment Commission, one of the eight commissions in the United States that educates Artists, supports the entertainment industry and enhances commerce. Producer of www.RollinonDetroit.org; Executive Producer of DWIFF/ SAG New Media Project; Chief Creative Officer of www.MichiganEntertainmentNetwork.com; Community Relations Chairman of Detroit Windsor International Film Festival; Developer of www.Studio628.com /Michigan's Film and Entertainment incubator; Partner of www.GordonMovieCars.com and www.MichiganMovieMarketing.com; Casting Agent of www.MichiganActorsGuide.com; Casting Director at Unity Studios/LIMS; Teaching Assistant at Lifton Institute for Media Skills; Associate Producer - Raised Alone - www.SamKProduction.com' Advisor to the Michigan Film Industry; and Actor - Film/Television/Theatre.
Case # 10-2073
Office of the Clerk
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
540 Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse
100 E. Fifth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-3988
Phone: (513) 564-7000
January 5th, 2011 at 3:13 am
WHAT?
I had to read this post three times to fully grasp what I thought I was reading the first 2 times. It never ceases to amaze me how our legal system seems to put aside common sense when issuing rulings. This is absurd. I cannot guess at the frustration Mr. Rivers must feel following this ruling. And now knowing the prolonged uphill battle that awaits to appeal the ruling. Ugh.