What's in a name?

Rose (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When a rapper appropriated the name of an infamous cocaine dealer, the latter sued, arguing that he has a property interest in his monicker.  The court disagreed, holding that the rapper's "art" was transformative, making the nom de plume his own.
http://verdict.justia.com/2014/01/13/battle-two-rappers-intellectual-property-rights-ends-california-court

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