Copyright Crusading with the BSA’s Cyber Ferret
Combining the best of e-voting and copyright enforcement, the Business Software Alliance announced a nationwide poll of school children to name its new mascot, the “copyright-crusading” cyber-ferret. CNET News.com expresses concern that the ferret “seem[s] to be an odd mascot choice for an organization devoted to strict legal adherence, given that the weasel-like mammals are outlawed in California and several other states.”
We too are a bit puzzled by the BSA’s slovenly ferret, not to mention the overtones of mass slaughter in the “Crusader” moniker. If kids get write-in votes, we suggest that they offer an animal more suited to haul the BSA’s burden — perhaps an eDonkey.
I don’t think “outlawed in California” is a problem - after all, you couldn’t keep a pet grizzly either, but that doesn’t reflect badly on Smokey The Bear.
The problem is “ferret” is just plain strange as a spokescreature.
“Smokey The Bear says only you can prevent forest fires” - OK
“Valenti The Ferret says …” - well, already that sounds weird!
Comment by Seth Finkelstein — August 12, 2004 @ 12:24 am