The NYTimes reports today that America's 47th largest law firm, Nixon Peabody, is making a fool of itself (the Times didn't of course say that out loud) link here. N-P celebrated its banner year with a banquet and a show in which the in-house singers parodied a well known song, with lyrics patting the firm on the back. It got to YouTube and N-P got it taken down as a violation of its copyright. Ain't copyright wonderful.

But then someone else put up a short version, arguing it is okay as protected by “Fair Use”. Now, however, it seems to have disappeared even as I write.

It is interesting that the firm initially decided to let the complete YouTube piece run–and then changed its mind. Speaks well for lawyerly judgment. Now I'm beginning to wonder about YouTube.

My neighbor, a lawyer, gave me a great lawyer joke (this and a bunch of others):

Attorney: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? Witness: No. A: Did you check for high blood pressure? W: No. A: Did you check for breathing? W: No. A: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? W: No. A: How can you be so sure, Doctor? W: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar. A: I see, but could the patent have still been alive, nevertheless? W: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.