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Nabob vs. Weisen-Heimermann

Asher Heimermann, 18, once helped Sheboygan, Wisc., Mayor Bob Ryan set up his Internet domain name. But when ryanformayor.com expired, Heimermann grabbed it himself, and directed it to his own site, where he’s running for mayor himself. He also registered the Twitter handle MayorBobRyan and began using it for a “parody” feed, sending out tweets depicting “himself” as an “arrogant, obnoxious, incompetent fool” who gets “drunk as hell” and cheats on his wife. Ryan’s attorney sent Heimermann a cease and desist letter, demanding that he list his own name as author of the Twitter account. But Heimermann said he would ignore the letter, and that the mayor, who “appears ... more concerned about a parody Twitter account and a domain name” than about doing his job, “has a real possibility of losing his job.” The attorney said he and Ryan had hoped “the young man had a little bit of maturity” to stop the “identity theft” and return the domain name. (AC/Sheboygan Press) ...If Darrow thinks an obvious parody on Twitter is identity theft, maybe he has too much “maturity.”