AboutEd Buckner Expertise Nationally known freethinker will answer questions on church and state, including giving specific quotations and historical or logical support on religious liberty questions. I`m an expert on the U.S. Constitution, First Amendment, and the Treaty with Tripoli (1796-97). I am a Regional Director for the Council for Secular Humanism, active in the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and a leader of the Atlanta Freethought Society and The Georgia Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. I earned a Ph.D.in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University in 1983.
Expert: Ed Buckner Date: 2/27/2008 Subject: free speech
Question Hello,
I recently had a very unpleasant encounter at a local bookstore where I have bought all of my books for college. When I tried to return a book during the allowed return time, the owner gave me less than the full amount back, hoping I would not count the money he gave me. When I asked him why the amount was short $20, he all of the sudden remembered that there are no returns on books with the plastic wrap removed. He told me never to shop there again because I had returned too many books. I wanted to know if it is legal to make a bumper sticker that says "'company name' tried to rip me off." Do I need a copywriter symbol after the company name, and can I even do this?
Answer Dear Taylor,
Alas, you have found your way into an area of free speech about which I am woefully ignorant. You probably need to consult an attorney--or *possibly* the nearest office of the ACLU could help. I wish I knew how to advise you, but I don't.
