Ted Alvin Klaudt

Jailed Ex-State Rep Tries To Copyright Own Name, Wants $500K Per Use

Justin Elliott | December 16, 2009, 9:39AM

Copyright symbol with Ted Klaudt (inset)

If Ted Alvin Klaudt had his way, we'd owe him $500,000 for the first clause of this sentence. The former South Dakota state representative has sent a notarized letter from prison -- where he is serving time for the rape of two of his foster daughters -- notifying several news organizations of a "Common Law Copyright" on the use of his name.

The AP is among the organizations that got the letter from the state prison in Springfield, South Dakota. Klaudt's copyright notice, which demands $500,000 per unauthorized use of his name, was notarized and includes a seal indicating it was filed with the register of deeds near Klaudt's family ranch, the AP reports.

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