File Under Stupid: National Mint Sues Toronto

You may be aware, especially if you live in Toronto, of the campaign to raise cash for Canadian cities. The campaign aims to get one sent of the GST collected in Toronto directed back to the city. In the most absurd attempt at 'intellectual property enforcement' yet the Canadian Mint has filed suit against the City of Toronto claiming that the mint owns the copyright on both the design of the penny and the words "one cent".

Both of these are absurd. First of all "one cent" is so generic that it's like claiming you own the copyright on the word "money" second the design of Canadian money, along with the names given to that money, are - like the flag and the text of the Constitution public property. To claim anything else is pure insanity. Not only should this case be immediately thrown out of court, but the masterminds behind it (whoever at the mint thought it was a good idea) should be immediately relieved of their duties.