Woss in a name
There are at least two separate forms of manipulation in this here Lemkin Institute for Genocide Protection – the “Institute” that issued a “statement” three weeks ago that said gender critical feminists are genocidal Nazis. One of them is calling themselves an “institute” when they’re not what most of us think of an institute as being. I said in my first post on the subject that I couldn’t find out much about the “institute” but I didn’t think it was a couple of teenagers and their phones, but the joke’s on me, it turns out to be pretty much that, except the “teenagers” are academics old enough to know better.
The other is helping themselves to the name of Raphael Lemkin.
Borrowing a famous name isn’t necessarily bad or wrong. What a Maroon cited the Susan B. Anthony List. But what about guest’s example of Gandhi? Not quite the same, is it. Why? I think because literal genocide or massacres or other bloody horrors. I could be wrong, I’m bumbling around among intuitions here, but the appropriation of Lemkin feels more a step too far to me than the appropriation of Eleanor Roosevelt would.
Look who’s weighing in on this.
“I’ve sometimes been accused of being a psychopath and a liar for accusing GCs and their fascist allies of promoting genocide of trans people. The Lemkin Institute agrees with me….Take it up with the world’s premiere anti-genocide organization.”
https://mobile.twitter.com/RozKaveney/status/1605862453350318080?cxt=HHwWgICqoZTZlcksAAAA
I wonder why this piece is being retweeted by TRAs now. No doubt they’re in a smug mood after recent events in Scotland and Spain, and wanted to further demonise their political opponents.
Actually, I meant to cite the SBA List as another example of a bad borrowing of a name–the list is an anti-abortion organization, a view which SBA never expressed.
Re: Raphael Lemkin. Alice Calaprice stated the Estate of Albert Einstein holds Einstein’s name and image under copyright, and anyone who wishes to use the great man’s name must obtain the Estate’s permission.
There are similar rules governing the use of other deceased notables’ names (mainly celebrities like Charlie Chaplin and Elvis Presley).
I imagine if this organisation is using Lemkin’s name without his estate’s permission, there could be legal challenges.
Interesting. I didn’t know that was possible.
It wouldn’t be copyright protection, as a name isn’t covered by copyright.
Most likely it’s the “right of publicity” being claimed (which in some jurisdictions survives death and can be asserted by the estate), or possibly trademark.