PIERRE, S.D. — A former South Dakota lawmaker convicted of raping his two foster daughters has sent news organizations what he claims is a copyright notice that seeks to prevent the use of his name without his consent.

A letter and an accompanying document labeled “Common Law Copyright Notice” said former state Rep. Ted Alvin Klaudt is reserving a common-law copyright of a trade name or trademark for his name. It said no one can use his name without his consent, and anyone who does would owe him $500,000.

Klaudt was convicted in 2007 on four counts of second-degree rape for touching his teenage foster daughters’ breasts and genitals in phony examinations he saidcould help them sell their eggs to infertile couples. He was sentenced to 44 years in prison for rape and 10 more years after pleading guilty to two counts of witness tampering.

The notice, received by The Associated Press and several other news organizations Monday, carried a return address that matched that of the state prison in Springfield, where Klaudt is being held.

[full story via the AP]

It is hilarious and disconcerting when lawmakers — former and otherwise — ignore pesky details of the law. For example: the wee tidbit that prevents people from copyrighting a name.

And so, because I have always been a smartass: Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt,  Ted Alvin Klaudt, infinity.

Bring it, Teddy boy.