Those in the world of high-pressure legal decision-making can identify with the scenario: receiving a cease and desist notice brought upon your client. In some instances, the allegations may seem baseless, often designed to intimidate or scare the client into compliance. This common practice is especially prevalent when dealing with major corporations where the default course of action is often to remove the subject of the takedown letter, independent of the claim’s merit.
In an intriguing legal standoff, attorney Mike Dunford recently faced a DMCA takedown notice over the word “LAPD”. The Los Angeles Police Foundation asserted that it held exclusive intellectual property rights over the term, seeking to halt the sale of certain shirts by Dunford’s client that carried the message, “FUCK THE LAPD.”
In a move that sparked conversation and acclaim amongst legal circles, Dunford’s response to the cease and desist letter was a simple, concise yet powerful, ‘LOL, no.’
A recent tweet by Rob Freund highlights this unique interaction between the LA Police Foundation and the shirt seller, showing the alleged infringement notice and Dunford’s response.
In the face of aggressive legal manoeuvres, this witty response is a reminder of how daring and resourceful legal professionals must sometimes be to ardently defend their clients’ interests.
For complete details of this intriguing legal story, a full report can be viewed on Above the Law.