Can you copyright someone's name?

Captain Copyright


I've had a page on myspace where I share my music that I write. It's just for fun and I've never really "marketed" it or pushed it for anything serious. Well, on 4 May 2007 I got this message from another musician named Kaz (which is my name backwards aka my music page):

I like your music. I have a question. As you can see my name is also KAZ. The only difference is I actually legally own the trade name "KAZ" for music. Plus the law is clear on first use. I have been know in music by KAZ professionally and legally since 1990. I have over 7 CD's that I have either produced or performed on, and actually have a new 14 trk CD coming in the next few weeks.

I am the owner of KazMusic.com (since 2000) and see that you have the KazMusic on My space. I am wondering if you would be interested in turning that url address over to me.

I know what I am asking might sound crazy but, you would being doing a great thing and I would forever appriciate it. Also legally speaking there is no real way for 2 KAZ's to be in music. This would be too confusing to the market place. It would be like have 2 Sting's or 2 Seal's. It just doesn't work.

Well I realize at this point you don't have to do anything, but I am asking for you to consider it.

Thank you and keep up the great music.

Kaz


I ignored it because I do have people I communicate to and that like my music. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I receive another message - which was a bit more threatening:

LEGAL NOTICE – IMPORTANT

KAZ® THE TRADEMARK “KAZ” IS FEDERALLY REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES REGISTERED IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND USED IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF THE ARTIST KAZ WHO WORKS IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROCKINBIRD RECORDS, INC. THIS MARK SHALL NOT BE REPRODUCED OR USED WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT OF KAZ.


- WE DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE DELETED

- YOU HAVE LESS THAN 7 DAYS OR WE WILL BE FORCED TO REPORT YOUR PROFILE(S). YOUR URL BEEN FLAGGED AND FILED.

PLEASE EDIT / CHANGE ALL PROFILE(S) HERE ON MYSPACE AND ALL OTHER WEBSITES INCLUDING FACEBOOK ETC. WHERE YOU USE the trademark “KAZ®” in relation to music of ALL GENRE…

PLEASE Go To: www. MySpace. com/Kaz for more complete information immediately! “You Are Now Officially Notified”

THANK YOU KINDLY

Then he links me to another page that has about 53347 pages of text about copyrighting the name "KAZ".

Haha. It seems that I've been threatened. I'm still not going to do anything because myspace is a free web hosting site that is public. I'd be surprised if they deleted me because I don't represent anyone but myself, but it's funny how some people get all worked up about this stuff and make threats over online messaging and make themselves seem like they're from the government.

If I do get deleted, I'm looking forward to starting up a new artist page called "Zak Stegman". If I get legally hassled for that one, well, I quit.

Here's the link to my music