Here is what I think KO may have done. The checks did come from Keith Olbermann the employee.

They may have come from Keith Olbermann the small business SCorp #95-XXXX instead of KO SS#XXX-XX-XXXX the employee of NBC/Universal.

I say that because for the past week he has been talking about corporations buying the election and this would be an excellent vehicle for illustrating how his SCorp has more freedom of speech/money than he does as a private/public figure citizen.

Plus he recently suspended "Worst Persons In The World" which he owns the copyright. You will notice no one does WPITW except Keith because he owns it. NBC has no license on it. This was a good move to yank it from the show in case they retaliated.

Oh I hope he was that smart.

K & R.

First, its far from clear that such a bit can be "owned" -- is it trademarked? its certainly not copyrightable (Individual "episodes" may be, but not the concept). And as a general matter, almost anything Olbermann creates as a an employee of MSNBC almost certainly is, for purposes of copyright, a "work for hire" with the copyright residing in MSNBC.

Intellectual property law 101.

It all depends on what is in the employment contract. Johnny Carson made a bundle on his faux authorship of the theme song of the "Tonight Show". Along with Paul Anka and maybe another.

I'm guessing you don't have any formal training in intellectual property law.

or part of the "goods or services" of the show itself. If Olbermann created the segment as part of his duties as an employee of NBC, they would own the trademark under work for hire.

There's no significant difference between something like WPITW and "Two thumbs up", a trademark owned by Siskel/Ebert:

"...As Ebert's statement on his website says, "We made television history, and established the trademarked catch-phrase 'Two thumbs up.' The trademark still belongs to me and Marlene Iglitzen, Gene's widow, and the thumbs will return."

Quite true. The trademark for "Two thumbs up" is owned by The Ebert Company, Ltd. and Siskel Productions, Ltd. How smart. Knowing of our own mortality, the two friends started shell companies (which is what they really are) in order to keep the trademark going, knowing its importance in the entertainment industry, in order to continue it.

There were varying reports, with Disney (the producer of the show) saying that Ebert wasn't allowing Disney to use the trademark while negotations on Ebert's role continuing and Ebert saying that Disney pulled the use of the mark itself."

http://tmcentlawforum.blogspot.com/2008/07/thumbs-down.html

and I'd be surprised if that was the case

and used it on his show

Why doesn't someone copy Kilborn? Because as an entertainer, it would show a lack of creativity. Letterman, who started doing a "headlines" segment (although not called "headlines") has on more than one occasion poked fun at Leno for basically copying it with his "headlines" segment.

i doubt the daily show would let him use it if they owned it

Dana Carvey still owns Church Lady, for instance.

It might be a fortunate coincidence that he did, but I don't think it was connected to his donations.

for any indefinite amount of time. I'm actually amazed he's lasted at MSNBC this long, which was his second go round with them. He's been a bridge burner in many of his jobs. He can afford to be one.

When or whether he gets back to his slot and what's left of his contract (last renewed for another 4 years in 2008, I think) he'll undoubtedly be fine. The loss will be all theirs. He has lots of interests, lots of options lots of talents, and lots of money. What he doesn't seem to have is an open-ended patience and stomach for rightwing assholes, even when they're his employers.

are jackasses, Keith isn't much of a journalist. He is just a sports jock who got lucky.I really do not understand applying journalistic standards to a commentator.KO was never an objective journalist nor was he a true reporter. This seems just a pissing match between KO and his boss.I would like to see him return though.This is all so silly. And after all, this isn't even network "news". It is only cable.

as a "dumb sports jock" though you're refraining from that exact adjective.

He really doesn't sell himself as anything other than a cable news political commentator in his present gig, but it isn't as if he hasn't been able to distinguish himself quite admirably in the past.

EDWARD R. MURROW AWARD WINNERS
http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/2003-murrow-national-winners701.phphe

Who knows what he may decide to do next? It may even be he's had his political fill of this kind of job, maybe not, but I don't think he's going to shrivel up in defeat and ignominy or not find plenty of valuable causes in his life yet, with or or without a "boss".

real journalists. I just wish we had people who reported the news and didn't give us their "opinions" but gave us the facts and let us form our own opinions. But I guess those days are gone.

That being said, I often agree with KO's opinions, and again, I do hope he returns. We need more liberal commentary and it would be a loss to have any liberal voice silenced.

Though KO isn't a news anchor - we expect some analysis - I agree 100% that Countdown is heavy on snark, lean on facts.

when he first started doing his current show.

It was probably the most intelligent sports segment on television - and went right over the heads of most sports fans.

He would pause sometimes for 5-6 seconds - dead air - before delivering a punch line, to great effect. Although his producer must have been thinking "WTF is he doing?".

Anderson Cooper. I should say another job in broadcasting. He's at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU last I heard. I liked Brown and I know I risk DUers throwing tomatoes when I say that.

as this old VN vet hippie says

This:

Or this:

out of his incorporated account there's nothing MSNBC can do about it... a corporation is a person and they can donate to whomever they want as we all know... I'd be very curious to know which account the money came from

We'll not see the likes of him in a long time if he doesn't come back. Not taking away from Rachel but they are on two different levels, both excellent and I hope for the best for Rachel. I'm so worried she will quit out of respect and frustration at the goings on.

united ruling challenged in some way.