Educational Use of "Flat Stanley" Threatened by Intellectual Property Claims

In what's becoming an all too common assertion of IP rights by estate holders, a teacher who's been conducting educational, funded use of Flat Stanley may have to end his efforts, which have reached across the globe.

http://www.flatstanleyproject.com/

From the George Lucas Educational Foundation Article:

"Today, the project has become a veritable global phenomenon, and because of it, thousands of children from more than forty countries have exchanged pictures, stories, and goodwill, turning a half-inch-thin storybook character into a cultural icon. Flat Stanley look-alikes have even been photographed with Clint Eastwood on Oscar night, soared aboard a space shuttle, and visited heads of state around the globe. But now, as the project enters its thirteenth year, Hubert might be forced to pull the plug on the popular project.

Citing legal challenges from the estate of Jeff Brown, the late author of the original Flat Stanley book, Hubert posted a message on the project home page that reads, 'Sadly, the Flat Stanley Project may be forced to end.' Letters of support illustrating the project's -- and the character's -- far reach have since poured in."

http://www.edutopia.org/flat-stanley-pen-pals