The company that owns the rights to Clifford the Dog says the big red critter belongs at the library, and not at children's birthday parties, reports the
San Jose Mercury News. And Scholastic
Inc., a $2 billion-a-year publishing company, is threatening to sue some San Francisco Bay Area clown companies for depicting Clifford and other characters at childrens' birthday parties without its
permission. "It's important for us to protect our valuable property rights," says spokesman Kyle Good. "If Clifford is being presented outside our guidelines, it can become a very uncomfortable
position for children as well." The clown companies received letters from Scholastic's lawyers that say they can settle out of court if they stop using the costumes, pay $100,000 and agree to sin no
more. But local attorney James McManis has offered to represent the clowns for free. Told of the offer, "I had tears in my eyes," says Happy the Clown, also known as Sari Mitchell. "You're kidding.
This is like a movie."
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