Can Michelle Obama sue Melania Trump

[gopiscrap]

for stealing her speech?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. That would be really, really stupid.

[oberliner]

2. Delete this post

Clutter like this makes DU hard to read sometimes. The good stuff gets lost in the noise.

[bench scientist]

3. yes it likely violates copyright law, as to the merits of bringing such a suit? ?? eom

[Ilsa]

4. No, Michelle should be gracious and tweet that she's

honored to have been Melania's inspiration and she's glad to have helped her with it.

[radical noodle]

5. She wouldn't because she's too smart for that

and if asked about it, I doubt she would even comment on it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Why bother?

Michelle can take it as a compliment, anyway.

[Person 2713]

7. FLOTUS doesn't need to take the low road, besides the trump family has that whole road blocked

and reserved

[PJMcK]

8. Not really

A paragraph by a public figure quoted without attribution by another public figure who wasn't financially compensated for the speech wouldn't be a winning lawsuit for copyright infringement.

But you knew that, didn't you?

[gopiscrap]

10. how did you know I know that

it's just wishful thinking on my part since Trump loves lawsuits so much. I would love to see Michelle stick the knife in a little further after the election. Most states have a 3 year statute on harm and I am sure Ohio does also (where the harm occurred)

[PJMcK]

18. It seemed like wishful thinking

I read the humor in you're OP, gopiscrap, and appreciated the snarkiness.

Mrs. Obama wouldn't get into the gutter and she doesn't need to even comment on it. The adage "never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake" comes to mind. Besides, the columnists, talking heads and comedians got a gold mine last night and they'll take care of the story.

Meanwhile, this story is just getting better as the morning goes on. The Trump campaign can't get their stories straight and once again Paul Manafort is making an ass of himself.

I love the smell of a Republican political campaign burning in the morning. It reminds me of... victory.

[gopiscrap]

21. Exactly

I am sitting here laughing my ass off in a way, but crying for the state of our civil discourse in another way. I too am an immigrant (achieved citizenship as a 15 year old) and come from a European perspective that civic knowledge and dialogue has a much more heightened vocabulary and bearing that what we are seeing on the GOP side. I was in Europe last year and many were amazed at how we run our elections and how lazy our media have become. When speaking with folks over there I was grilled on three things a) the ability and proliferation of guns in our culture b) lack of a universal health care system c) what the hell is with our political system that such a buffoon as Trump is even allowed to run for President.

[PJMcK]

23. The bi-polarity of it gives me whiplash

Like you, I'm enjoying the hell out of the chaos Donald Trump has brought to the Republican Party. But I lament the fact that so many of our fellow citizens support this buffoonish cockwomble.

In any event, I'm looking forward to tonight's screw-ups. This convention could get better and better.

[gopiscrap]

24. well said!

[longship]

9. Why? No point.

It was a non-forced error. Let the GOP deal with their malignment.

Sit back and enjoy.

[JonathanRackham]

11. The problem needs a copyright attorney.

[sarisataka]

12. She could,

There have been suits filed for less.

Fortunately for Democrats Mrs. Obama is not a fool.

[Ms. Yertle]

13. Um, seriously??

This is not the first time something like this has happened in politics. Did Duval Patrick sue Barack Obama for "stealing" his speech?

https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2008/02/20/the-obama-plagiarism-scandal/

[citood]

15. IIRC, Both had the same advisor (Axelrod), who may have written the line for both

[Ms. Yertle]

16. Probably

I wonder if maybe Michelle's speechwriter had something to do with Melania's speech.

[citood]

17. I thought about that...but doubt it

I think the speechwriter just scabbed together stuff from other candidate wives speeches...grabbed the parts that got the most applause, etc. And then tried to re-work/re-word it. Just really sloppy and lazy work.

[Bleacher Creature]

14. There's no doubt in my mind that she'll take the high road. nt

[spanone]

19. she wouldn't be that petty

[Quackers]

20. Nah, the fallout for Trump is payment enough.

[auntpurl]

22. She wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole.

Thank goodness she has more sense than some of the commentators on DU.

[DrDan]

25. lol - this is satire, right?